Lowe’s donates to local schools
The Lowe’s Home Improvement Store on the border of North Fort Myers and Cape Coral recently donated $10,000 in grants to two local schools, the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts in North Fort Myers and Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary in Cape Coral.
The projects are differnet but each offers a bonus for local schools, said school officials.
While Lowe’s volunteers were to be at NFM Academy last Thursday to volunteer they had a different, and just as an important mission. They were all extremely busy helping residents brace for Tropical Storm Isaac in case of an emergency, which thankfully did not happen here.
At North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts, Lowe’s Home Improvement Store provided a $5,000 grant to install a new gallery system, as part of its Tool Box for Education grants.
“Lowe’s has donated $5,000 to us. This week, we will have parent and student volunteers here to help us install a new gallery system,” said Academy art teacher Theresa West-Taylo. “This is to put up a professional display for the school and art shows. It will also show off our student art work better.”
“We get a professional set up,” said North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts Principal Dr. Douglas Santini. “It is fantastic a professional way of displaying, just like an art gallery. We couldn’t have done it without the help of Lowe’s grants and volunteers.
There also will be new frames for the school, on which the parent and student volunteer have already started working.
Parents and students filled in for Lowe’s volunteers who were preparing the community in case of Isaac They included Hallie Mallard, Laurel Egan, Toni Marzella and Aliya Brewster.
“At Hector Cafferata, we received a $5,000 grant from Lowe’s to create a canopy out back where our students can go to have special lunches and celebrations. That includes just having an outdoor, shaded haven for students who may otherwise not find one,” said Cafferata Principal James Wes Moreland.
The work is already under way, with some foundation laid, he said. “It’s in process with the School District, approving the design and set up. I think it’s wonderful for Lowe’s to support schools. We encourage that and we need it.”
“At Lowe’s, we believe community involvement extends beyond the boundaries of the traditional retail setting. Whether it’s helping improve neighborhood schools, assisting with natural disaster recovery or taking an active role in programs that make our neighborhoods better places to live, we are committed to helping our neighbors through alliances with well-respected organizations,” said Lowe’s assistant store manager Eric Sellers.
“For more than 65 years, Lowe’s has supported the communities we call home. At a time when schools and community groups are struggling to support the basic needs of their communities, the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation recognizes the importance of financial support,” Sellers continued. “This year, as a foundation, we are challenging ourselves to seek ways to provide the tools that help our educators and parent groups through today’s challenging times efficiently, while providing the greatest impact, with basic necessities taking priority.”
Now in its sixth year of helping build better schools and communities, the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education program has provided nearly $25 million to more than 5,000 schools across the country.
Lowe’s Home Improvement Store is at 1929 Pine Island Road, NE. For information, call 829-3300.