Every year, the Lowe’s store in Martinsville seeks an organization to donate time and resources to as part of its Lowe’s Heroes program. Lowe’s Heroes is a company-wide volunteer program that offers Lowe’s associates the opportunity to support local community improvement projects.
In the past, local Lowe’s associates have completed projects to support the Henry County Public School System and two local YMCAs. Projects have included installing raised garden beds for all elementary schools in the district and painting rooms and building shelves at the YMCA for its afterschool program. This year, the Martinsville Lowe’s found a unique recipient of their yearly generosity – Patrick Henry Community College.
Lowe’s store manager Mike Mayes and two associates, Taylor Lockamy and Mason Williams, brought the college dozens of buckets, boxes, and bags filled with approximately $4,000 worth of tools and personal equipment. The tools will be given to students in PHCC’s Constructions Trades programs and other similar programs where hand tools and personal equipment is necessary for classwork.
Mayes chose PHCC as this year’s recipient when he learned how some students in the community college’s skilled-trades programs struggle to afford crucial gear like safety glasses, tool bags, and hand tools. Many students rely on scholarships and other outside funding sources to cover their tuition, but these funds frequently don’t cover the cost of supplies. Responding to this need, Martinsville Lowe’s donation includes tools that students can use in the classroom and can take with them to the workplace when they graduate. Included in the donation were AWP tool bags, Kobalt tape measures, wrenches, and screwdrivers, Craftsman hammers, and more.
“Analysts predict the current skilled trades gap will leave three million jobs open by 2028,” Mayes said. “Through donations like this and our Generation T movement, Lowe’s aims to empower those pursuing skilled trades, which provide high-growth career opportunities and the ability to be an entrepreneur.”
The donated items will help more than 20 students in programs like Plumbing, HVAC, Carpentry, and Electrical Groundsman. For some students, donations like these are a huge help as they work to move out of poverty –or out of living paycheck to paycheck– to landing a secure, well-paying job. For students interested in these career fields, PHCC is actively accepting enrollments in many of these programs, and several funding sources are available to cover up to 100% of tuition. Interested students should contact wecd@patrickhenry.edu or call 276-656-0260.
