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Home Depot and Guiding Reins team up in Campobello

 

Guiding Reins, a nonprofit equine program designed to help veterans improve their physical and mental well-being, recently teamed up with Home Depot to build a new compost and shavings bin at their Campobello facility. The Home Depot Foundation, specifically the Home Depot on 120 East Blackstock Road in Spartanburg, assisted Guiding Reins in the building project.

Thursday and Friday, workers and volunteers from Home Depot set to work building a large shed for the bin at Shady View Farm, owned by Rebecca Elson and operated by her daughter Victoria, for the purpose of furthering Guiding Reins’ mission of helping more veterans through their programs. 

The Home Depot Foundation was created in 2011, specifically to serve veterans. It has since provided over 400 million dollars to veteran causes. Two years ago, founder Diane Prewitt inquired about teaming up with the Home Depot Foundation on a visit to the Dorman Centre Home Depot, and her inquiry caught the attention of Assistant Manager Andrew Grenawalt, a veteran who served as a US Army Infantry Mortarman out of Alexandria, Virginia. 

However, the pandemic forced them to suspend the program temporarily. 

“When the pandemic hit, Home Depot immediately had to stop all community activities. Luckily, we can now get back out into our community and give back. It’s one of our core values,” said JT Hoag, the store manager. 

Diane received a phone call this summer from Hoag and was asked if they were still looking for assistance with their building project for the program. She said yes, and the Foundation quickly approved the project. Andrew and another store employee personally drew up the plans. 

Members of the management team at Home Depot were quick to point out that nonprofits like Guiding Reins make the Foundation work, and allow for them to make a difference in the lives of veterans. For more information on how to volunteer or donate to support Guiding Reins check out their website at guidingreins.org.