Local EffortPart of The Home Depot’s National Celebration of Service Campaign to Serve Veterans at Home
WHAT: On Thursday, Oct. 19, The Home Depot Foundation will partner with Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay to completely refurbish the home of Gary L. Robles, 68, a U.S. Navy veteran who served as a Corpsman and Field Medical Technician for 21 years. After Robles retired from the military, he served the Tampa community through careers at the Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Board of Criminal Justice and the Sheriff’s Department.
Robles’ home of more than 25 years is sentimental and in need of support from volunteers to ensure it is safe, accessible and updated to current codes. More than 50 members of Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate-led volunteer force, will complete the work on their day off.
This project in Tampa is part of The Home Depot’s annual Celebration of Service campaign to improve the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families. Giving back to veterans is personal to The Home Depot, as more than 35,000 of the company’s associates have served in the military. As part of the campaign, The Home Depot is encouraging the nation to “Choose to Serve” those who served the country. To learn how to get involved in your community, visit CelebrationOfService.com.
Volunteer projects will include:
Installing a new kitchen and bathroom
Updating flooring and windows
Painting the home’s interior and exterior
Landscaping
WHO: Spokespeople available for interviews include:
Gary Robles, veteran resident
Sean Vissar, The Home Depot [On-Site Contact: 678-237-2788]
Charles Wilson, Regional Vice President, The Home Depot
Jose Garcia or Jeremy Twachtman, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay
The Home Depot veteran volunteers
WHERE: 9907 N. 16th St., Tampa, FL 33612
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
CONTACT:Jose Garcia/ jose@rttb.org/ 813-389-0952 (cell) , or
To learn more about Home Depot efforts nationwide, please contact Hannah Van Malssen at 404-630-2073 and Hannah_Van_Malssen@homedepot.com.
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About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation is a 501c3 committed to improving the homes and lives of U.S. veterans and their families with a specific focus on combat-wounded, senior and homeless veterans. The foundation also provides clean-up and rebuilding support for communities affected by natural disasters.
Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested approximately $213 million in veteran-related projects, part of the foundation’s quarter of a billion dollar pledge to veteran-related causes by 2020. In partnership with Team Depot, the 400,000-strong army of associate volunteers, the organization has positively impacted more than 34,500 veterans’ homes and helped more than 3,700 communities.
RTTB strengthens communities and creates opportunities beginning with housing. Since it was founded in 2000, RTTB has participated in the development of over 500 homes serving more than 1,450 persons in the Tampa Bay area. RTTB is an experienced developer that is known for its affordable homes that not only reflect the character of the community but also have the same quality of design and features as market-rate housing.
RTTB also makes critical home repairs for homeowners in need. RTTB primarily works with low-income families, veterans, the elderly, victims of disasters and persons with disabilities. The organization also rehabilitates donated homes that are then sold to those in need of affordable housing. RTTB relies on the support of corporate sponsors, public grants, individual donors, and the hands-on work of hundreds of volunteers and skilled labor each year. More information is available at www.rttb.org.
