Butler Salvation Army Scores Big Win from Team Depot - World's Largest Home Improvement Retailer Has a Heart for Kids

Giving back is a fundamental value of The Home Depot and a passion for its associates. Thanks to that generosity and community spirit, many children from the Butler Salvation Army will reap the benefits. Beginning Wednesday, March 18th and culminating Thursday March 19th, more than 50 volunteers will pick up brushes, hammers, and nails and totally renovate The Salvation Army's After-School program areas.

Through Team Depot, The Home Depot's associate-led volunteer program, associates work side-by-side to create life-long, meaningful relationships between the home improvement giant's staff and its neighbors. Formalized in 1992, Team Depot programs bring together volunteerism, do-it-yourself expertise, product donations and monetary grants as a way to support the communities where the associates live and work. Through The Home Depot Foundation and its ongoing partnerships with nonprofit organizations, The Home Depot donates millions of hours, tools, and supplies each year to community service projects.

"We are blessed that Home Depot selected our facility and program," said Butler Salvation Army Worship and Service Commanding Officer, Captain Phillip Hostetler. "We are serving more children now than ever and we were in desperate need for the renovations. In this economy, that was something we couldn't possibly afford."

Some of the slated improvements include: complete paint work; replacing the existing ceiling tiles; building four large tables and thirty-two stools; replacing window treatments; a custom made 5'x7' area rug for the reading room; constructing a "window seat" in the reading room; installing new lighting fixtures in the reading room, home work room and other areas; building a small stage like area complete with a curtain for plays and pretend performances; and the creation of an art center. The remodel is a complete surprise to the children.

Other businesses and organizations have been inspired by the Team Depot project and have expressed their interest to help, including: Gamma Sigma Sigma of Slippery Rock University, Big Lots of Butler; Old Country Buffet of Butler; Frames and Pixels, Inc.; Stanley's Bakery; Behr Paint; and Mohawk Flooring.

Home Depot has a history of giving back to the Butler community. In May of 2007 the local Team Depot did a revamp project on East Christie Park in Butler. In the summer of 2008, they helped build a playground for the YMCA at Armco Park. Routinely, they give project kits to different events for kids in the community. This includes 3,000 kits that are given out at Butler's Fall Festival and 400 more at the Annual Kids Day America, held at the Butler Fairgrounds.

Both a church and a social service organization, The Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865. Today, it provides critical services in 117 countries worldwide. The 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services. To learn more about The Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania. The Salvation Army...doing the most good for the most people in the most need.