Four Day Remodel Offers a New Start for Washington Family

The Bellingham, Wa. Home Depot #4715 was approached in May by Garnell, a customer with a friend in need. Garnell’s friend Marlene had just lost her husband in a tragic fire. Marlene and her two teenagers were staying in an unfinished, unlivable trailer. Several associates at the store quickly realized that something must be done for this family.

Associates Chris, Barry, Quanah, Melissa and Amy continued listening to Garnell, and learned that the family’s kitchen consisted of just a subfloor, utility sink, old stove, and a refrigerator that could barely keep food cool. Chris is the area’s co-captain for Team Depot, our associate-led volunteer force. He joined with Garnell in making this project his personal cause. Chris knew that with the right non-profit partner he could activate Team Depot volunteers to help make their home livable.

With the support of store manager Deanne Clawson, the Bellingham Home Depot store contacted the Whatcom Volunteer Center and Home Depot’s Western Division Community Affairs office. He presented a list of needs for the project, quotes, designs, letters of intent and Marlene’s story as it appeared in the local newspaper. The Home Depot donated several thousand dollars to the project and Chris rallied his local Team Depot volunteers.

Team Depot, under Chris’ leadership, organized a four-day remodel with more than 70 volunteers in September. The project included new laminate floor, a new kitchen with cabinets, countertops, a dishwasher, new refrigerator, sink, range, and microwave. The project included carpet throughout the bedrooms, fresh paint inside and out, a deck on the side of the home, new stairs for the front and back entries, a fence and new sod for the yard, a flower bed and herb garden. Home Depot workers from throughout the area came to help with this project from Bellingham to Oak Harbor to Burlington to Lynden to Bothell.

District Manager Doug Molder said, “We presented Marlene and her kids with a wonderful new home and a new lease on life.”

Many other businesses pitched in on this project. Read more about the community efforts to make over Marlene’s home for her family on the Whatcom Volunteer Center Blog.

View photos and learn more about this project: “Birch Bay Family Finds New Home and Friends,” from The Northern Light newspaper.