Historic Building Makeover~Giving Back To Veterans

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to be a part of something really cool.  A huge, vacant, historic building on Detroit's east side was transformed in one day by a sea of volunteers in orange shirts.

That in itself is exciting. But, that is not where the story ends. It's where it begins for more than 40  homeless veterans that will now call this building home. Thanks to the volunteer efforts of Team Depot, The Safe Place Transition Center in Detroit is now ready to open it's doors to welcome veterans in need of a home and assistance re-building their lives. 

Here is a look at some of the beautiful detail of this historic building…

This is what the inside of the building looked like when Team Depot arrived early in the morning (before the makeover)…

(Before)

And this is what it looked like at the end of the day...

(After)

Here is a quick video of events from this day:

In order for The Safe Place Transition Center (SPTC) to begin housing veterans, the building was in need of repairs including 18,000 square feet of paint, supplies, new appliances, doors etc. Also needed was the man power to do the work. Through Team Depot's ongoing effort to address veteran housing challenges and served those who have served us all, they were able to provide this in just one day as part of the Home Depot Foundation's Celebration of Service program.

In just two months, from 9/11 to Veterans Day, Team Depot volunteers will put their talents to work to transform 1,000 homes for veterans during the Celebration of Service Program. Thousands of The Home Depot’s store associates spend their time off volunteering as members of Team Depot in communities across the country. With the power of Team Depot volunteers, The Home Depot has transformed more than 13,000 homes for veterans.  

  

Last Thursday in Detroit at SPTC, it was more than just one home that Team Depot transformed. It was a gigantic building. The SPTC is one of the largest veteran housing facilities of it's kind. 

Also joining in the group of Team Depot volunteers that day were the members of the SPTC organization, local veterans, community representatives and local dignitaries. There were times during the day where you honestly couldn't tell there was hard work going on, because we were having so much fun working together.  

I wish you could hear the music, laughter and energy that filled this building.  Looking out the window at one point, I think I spotted some orange shirts on the basketball court.

Local veterans stopped by to show their support for the Team Depot efforts at SPTC. The SPTC will change the lives of more than 40 homeless veterans.  In addition to providing safe transitional housing, the organization also offers programs to empower veterans in a supportive environment, including financial literacy counseling, substance abuse prevention education and PTSD and anger management therapy. 

It was an amazing day that I'll never forget. This group of individuals of all ages, from all walks of life came together with one common goal, to give back to the veterans that have served all of us. 

At the end of the day after all the work was complete, everyone gathered outside to present the SPTC with a Home Depot apron signed by all the volunteers as well as a plaque dedicated to Team Depot's support for the organization. 

I'm so thankful to The Home Depot for inviting me to be a part of the Team Depot family. While I have this opportunity, I'd like to give a shout out to the Detroit area Home Depot employees. This group has a really special sense of camaraderie and pride in their work.

Looking back at these photos, I realized this was one of the best makeover's I've ever taken part in. 

Giving back to veterans is personal to The Home Depot, more than 35,000 of their associates are veterans! To learn more about Team Depot please visit the Home Depot Foundation website.  To learn more about The Safe Place Transition Center in Detroit, please click here. 

The Home Depot Foundation partnered with bloggers such as me for their Celebration of Service program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any product mentioned in these posts. The Home Depot Foundation believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. The Home Depot Foundation’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

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