The Home Depot Foundation is increasing its disaster response commitment for 2020 to $4 million to support community relief and long-term rebuilding efforts in states impacted by Hurricane Laura. The additional funds add an incremental $500,000 to those already in use by The Home Depot Foundation’s nonprofit partners and previous in-kind donations in response to storms that have occurred in 2020.
The Home Depot Foundation, in partnership with nonprofits Convoy of Hope, Operation Blessing, American Red Cross, Team Rubicon, All Hands and Hearts, and ToolBank Disaster Services, has activated warehouses across the United States, mobilizing response teams to provide critical supplies in affected areas. The foundation is distributing relief kits assembled by volunteers in areas struck by Hurricane Laura and supplying meals to local residents through its partner World Central Kitchen.
Home Depot activated its disaster response command center last week to support stores, associates, and communities in the path of Hurricane Laura. More than 250 associates from the company’s merchandising, operations, supply chain, and other teams have been working to move truckloads of supplies to stores throughout the region, and will continue to do so, as needed, according to Home Depot.
“We’re extremely grateful that all of our stores were able to reopen quickly to continue providing for the needs of their communities,” Hector Padilla, president of The Home Depot’s southern division, said in a news release. “We appreciate the work of our associates and our nonprofit partners to bring relief to those who have been impacted by this storm and other natural disasters across the U.S. this year.”
The Home Depot Foundation is also active in California, where wildfires have swept across the state. Stores have donated tarps, water, sanitation materials, and wheelbarrows for local relief and the company’s foundation will also serve nonprofits in impacted areas.
In the spring, the Home Depot Foundation supported relief efforts following tornadoes in the southeast and distributed hundreds of relief kits to communities impacted by Hurricane Hanna. The Foundation also positioned supplies along the east coast to aid communities affected by Hurricane Isaias.