Home Depot volunteers give youth club a facelift
Ramona Branch of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego has a new look, thanks to the donation of time and materials from Home Depot as well as a grant from KaBOOM, a national nonprofit organization that strives for a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.
Volunteers from the Poway and Carmel Mountain Home Depot locations descended en masse on a recent Saturday morning to give the ailing clubhouse a much-needed facelift.
Ramona resident Chris Honadle helped make the volunteer work project possible. Working as a cross merchandiser at the Poway Home Depot for about three years, Honadle is in charge of all the signs and promotions within the store as well as setting up events in surrounding communities with store manager Sean Callahan and assistant manager Todd Collins.”
“Ramona is a big part of our store,” said Callahan, “so we chose to give back to the community here.”
With a $2,000 grant from KaBOOM for supplies, Home Depot employees provided the labor force to refurbish the building and grounds. The clubhouse is in Collier Park.
“There is actually about $3,000 worth of materials in the project,” said Callahan. “Home Depot picked up the extra and Todd is custom building the front desk area with new cabinets and a marble countertop.”
According to Collins, the project needed “around 200 man hours” to complete, using 25 people over an 8-hour period.
Ramona Branch Boys and Girls Club administrator Lori Woosley was presented with the idea. Home Depot gifted the grant money from KaBOOM and Woosley was allowed to select materials and services needed most at the club.
“We are painting the game room, side rooms, putting in new countertops and installing new landscaping,” said Honadle. “We are painting the fire lane curb and front sign as well.”
About 10 people volunteered from the Home Depot in Poway and another 10 came from the Carmel Mountain location on Nov. 1. Six of those 10 people are residents of Ramona, and two grew up going to the Boys and Girls Club.
Volunteer work project done by Home Depot associates began in 1992 as a way to support the communities where the employees live and work. Home Depot has about 350,000 employees nationwide. The organization provides two million volunteer service hours per year.
“Giving back is a fundamental value of the Home Depot and a passion for its associates,” said Callahan. “The Home Depot embraces its role as a leader in social responsibility and celebrates its longstanding commitment to volunteerism.”