Operation Stand Down gets a boost from Home Depot, volunteers

JOHNSTON – The Home Depot and Operation Stand Down Rhode Island this week put to use $20,000 to beautify the nonprofit’s new service center at the veterans complex.
Home Depot’s $20,000 donation covered supplies, and the company donated volunteer manpower as well.
The complex at 1010 Hartford Ave., which recently was expanded, houses 17 veterans and their families and is also home to the organization’s headquarters and the newly constructed veteran service center.
On Oct. 14, volunteers from the Home Depot joined Operation Stand Down volunteers, and volunteers from the MET School in Newport, to renovate the Johnston site. This included building a flagpole reception area, painting sheds donated by the Home Depot and Home Brands Inc., and building a patio and outdoor seating for veterans.
Volunteers also built fencing for a child’s play area, planted shrubbery, laid down mulch and completed other projects.
Fat Boys Pizza in Johnston provided free lunch for the volunteers.
By the end of the day, the newly landscaped property had a new flagpole reception area, a patio for veteran residents, six new, painted sheds, and new outdoor seating.
The new veterans’ service center will celebrate the transformation with an official ribbon cutting on Nov. 9 at 12:30 p.m.
Operation Stand Down Rhode Island is Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. Founded in 1993, its mission is to help homeless and at-risk veterans secure stable housing. The agency offers supportive permanent and transitional housing, intensive case management, basic human needs assistance and an employment training and placement program.

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