Local Home Depot Workers Help in Joplin

Vinings-based Home Depot sent almost 200 volunteers, many from the Store Support Center off Paces Ferry Road, to Joplin, MO on Monday to help the tornado devastated town in clean-up efforts, and to mark the opening of a 60,000-square-foot temporary store near its original location in the southwest Missouri city.

The original store was destroyed by the May 22 twister that killed 154 and wiped out an estimated 500 businesses, employing 10 times that many people. One Home Depot associate perished in the storm and among the fatalities were customers.

The home improvement retailer had previously donated $1 million for relief and rebuilding, and a Home Depot charity, The Homer Fund, has been giving grants to Joplin employees who were affected by the disaster. The company has also  distributed $25,000 to the Joplin Family YMCA for the Joplin Childcare Relief Program that provides free day care services to the community.

"The devastation in Joplin is indescribable and we will be there to help this community get back on its feet," said Home Depot CEO and chairman Frank Blake.

A little more than a week after the storm, the store opened a limited lumber yard in Joplin, and on Monday, Home Depot volunteers worked on two main projects. They repaired and replaced the roof, windows and siding on a Home Depot associate’s home, and also repaired and renovated a local Little League park. 

Home Depot received assistance from fellow Atlanta-based companies such as Delta Air Lines and Georgia-Pacific in its efforts Monday. Delta provided a 757 jet free of charge to fly the volunteers while Georgia-Pacific donated several thousand pounds of paper plates, cups, napkins and other product to the non-profit, Convoy of Hope.

For continuing updates, follow the Home Depot on Twitter at @homedepot and @homedepotfdn.

Donations to help victim's of the tornado can be made through the American Red Cross. Donations will help buy supplies and basic needs for families staying in shelters and receiving assistance in their time of need.