Tennessee Store Helps a Special Girl & Her Family
All 9-year-old girls dream of a beautiful bedroom to call their own. But some girls need something a bit more special. One Home Depot store in Tenn., helped a customer create a unique bed for her special needs daughter.
Gary, department supervisor of Millwork at Store 745 in Lebanon, Tenn., designed and built a bed for Abbae to help keep her safe and secure. Gary was about to step out for lunch when he encountered a customer looking at bifold doors. He asked her what project she was working on, and quickly learned just how special this project was. Not only did the customer want to make a secure bed for her daughter, she needed to also have access to change Abbae’s diapers and bedding.
After getting all of the dimensions and specifications, Gary realized the bifold doors would not solve her problem, and asked the customer for a few hours so he could work on a solution. He knew that Abbae’s safety was the No. 1 priority.
Gary started sketching out some ideas and looking at product options. When he had a design worked out, he went to Store Manager Joey Parchman. Gary knew that his design would be beyond the customer’s budget and that it would take a considerable amount of time.
“Joey said, ‘These people need our help – let’s just do it!’ ” said Gary.
Gary called the customer and told her he planned to make the entire bed out of vinyl planks and lattice, which would be easy to clean. He also asked her the theme of the bedroom so he could match the colors, and then set to work. It took Gary nearly three weeks to build and assemble the designer bed, and then he called Abbae’s mother and arranged an installation date.
Gary partnered with Myron, the store’s Lead Generator, for assistance in installing the bed, and together they went to the customer’s home. “The whole family was there – Abbae’s mother, grandparents and uncle,” Gary said.
The family could not believe how professional the bed looked – they kept saying it looked like it came from a designer department store. They told Gary and Myron that they couldn’t wait to decorate her room with the theme they had chosen – ladybugs and dragonflies.
What the family didn’t know was that the cashiers had seen Gary working on the bed and word had spread. The cashiers had volunteered to buy bedding and decorations for Abbae, and one cashier even cross-stitched a dragonfly wall hanging. The colorful gifts were stashed away in the delivery truck outside.
Myron told the family he had to go to the truck to start cleaning up. When he came back into the room, he was carrying everything the family needed to decorate.
“It was very emotional,” Gary said. “This is a fabulous place to work. I need to serve people – Home Depot fits my profile.”
Comments
This is very inspiring for me to know that I work with such great people even if I am an outsourced agent. Way to good Gary
Store #745 is fortunate to have a DH like Gary. He’s a real sweetheart! Caring for others is what it’s all about! Great Job!
Way to go! That is awesome to show such creative heart! Even better to take it one step further by decorating it up for her!
Wow what a beautiful store it touches my heart … I love working with such great people at Home Depot…
Thank you Gary for taking the time to give that little girl something so special. Not only did it help her but it will make life just a little easier for her family….very cool!!
Bravo, Gary. This was truly inspiring and heart-warming.
Way to go Home Depot!!!
Only been with Home Depot two years, I hope that we never again forget what makes us different from those “other” guys. Way to go guys, you truely touch there lives.
Just want to say great job store 745. That was a awsome story. You all rock, keep it up.
This story soo brought tears to my eyes and touched my heart. Kudos to Gary for going the extra mile =)
It’s little moments like this that make life worth all the bad that’s included. When we listen to our customers/friends/families needs and deliver over and beyond what they expect. This story is truly amazing and inspiring! I’ve only just started at THD, but am truly proud to be working with such a spirit driven group of individuals. Thank you to Gary and this family for blessing us all!
WOW…As I sit here at work on my lunch with tears running down my face. I am reminded of the true Blessings and heartfilled people we have working with us… WOW… What a Blessing you all truly are….Thank You For All You Do…Bree store #8439 Hutto,Tx