Turning a house into a home can take time.
That’s especially true for military families, whose lives are in constant flux and move from post to post. To help give these families a feeling of being at home, and provide some new inspiration during these trying times, the USO and Lowe’s teamed up with Maria Reed of Moving with the Military to host three virtual DIY workshops.
Bringing Lowe’s DIY expertise to the virtual table was store manager Brian Levy, who also served in the Navy for 20 years.
“As a veteran, I relied on the USO for services for myself and my family and it’s an honor to give back to such a great organization,” Levy said. “I know the sacrifices military families make and hope these workshops empower them to take a creative break and craft a meaningful addition to their home.”
Maria Reed, military spouse and creator of Moving With The Military, co-hosted each workshop with Levy, bringing her own creativity and style to each project. Before the virtual gatherings, all participants received a list of materials beforehand to follow along as the DIY duo walked them through a simple “how-to” for each project.
Supporting military spouses worldwide through education and skillset building is critical to the wellness and mission readiness of the military family.
“Working with the USO and Lowe’s was a perfect partnership and I enjoyed sharing tips and tricks to help military families create a better home, because home means more than ever," Reed said.
Levy and Reed hosted three workshops: building a firepit, customizing furniture and painting 101. Amongst the participants, more than 20 states were represented, including seven military branches and four countries including Japan, Guam, Germany and Spain.
“It was great to see the worldwide participation and outreach from the USO and Lowe’s," Levy added. “I know that Lowe’s does a lot for our military and it was a humbling experience to be a small part of it.”
These workshops are part of Lowe’s $4.5 million pledge to military partners in 2020 and everyday commitment to the military community, which includes a 10% military discount, veteran parking and camouflage vests to celebrate the service of its 20,000 military associates.
