In honor of the heroic efforts of Lowe’s store employees during the April 16 tornado in Sanford, N.C., Lowe’s announced this week it will donate $250,000 to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund. Lowe’s stores nationwide also will accept customer’s cash donations to the American Red Cross from April 20 to May 22. Lowes.com also will serve as a donation point for customers who wish to contribute to the American Red Cross, making it convenient for people who want to join Lowe’s in making a difference in communities affected by disaster. The donations will support the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund to provide support to the thousands affected by the natural disasters nationwide, including the tornadoes in North Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi; the wildfires in Texas; and the flooding in North Dakota.
In Sanford, no employees or customers lost their lives during the severe weather thanks to the quick response from Lowe’s employees inside the store. All Sanford Lowe’s employees have been offered the opportunity to work in surrounding stores  no jobs will be lost as a result of this disaster. In addition to these efforts and Lowe’s support of the American Red Cross, Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund will continue to assist the company’s own employees faced with rebuilding nationwide. The Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund, which was created in 1999, has contributed $12 million in assistance to more than 11,000 employees and their families. Lowe’s matches each contribution dollar for dollar to make employee donations even more powerful.(HMS)
AND Anne-Marie Rhodes, a Sanford native and the 2007 Miss Sprint Cup, joined NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson’s pit crew on a tour of damage to the Lowe’s Home Improvement store and neighborhoods hit by Saturdays’ tornado.(Sanford Herald) and see an article with images by Rhodes at Motor Racing Digest.(4-21-2011)
