The Home Depot Foundation increases hurricane relief funding

The Home Depot Foundation has increased its disaster response commitment for 2020 to $4 million to further support community relief and long-term rebuilding efforts in the states impacted by Hurricane Laura. 

These funds add an incremental $500,000 to those already in use by its nonprofit partners and previous donations in response to the hurricane and other storms that have occurred this year.

Foundation nonprofit partners include Convoy of Hope, Operation Blessing, American Red Cross, Team Rubicon, All Hands and Hearts and ToolBank Disaster Services. 

The Home Depot Foundation and The Home Depot have activated warehouses across the country, mobilizing response teams to provide critical supplies to the affected areas.

As part of the relief efforts the foundation is distributing relief kits assembled by associate volunteers in areas struck by Hurricane Laura and is supplying meals to local residents through its nonprofit partner, World Central Kitchen.

The company activated its disaster response command center on Wednesday to support stores, associates and communities in the path of Hurricane Laura, which is operating virtually to prioritize safety and social distancing. 

More than 250 associates from the company's merchandising, operations, supply chain and other teams have been working around the clock to move truckloads of supplies to stores throughout the region, and will continue their efforts, according to The Home Depot Foundation.

"We're extremely grateful that all of our stores were able to reopen quickly to continue providing for the needs of their communities," said Hector Padilla, president of The Home Depot's Southern Division. "We appreciate the work of our associates and our nonprofit partners to bring relief to those who have been impacted by this storm and other natural disasters across the U.S. this year."

The foundation is also active in California, where wildfires have swept across the state. Company stores have donated thousands of items for local relief, including tarps, water, sanitization materials, and wheelbarrows, in addition to other products. Funds committed by The Home Depot Foundation will also serve nonprofits in these areas to help communities recover.

The company’s employee assistance program, The Home Fund, is also processing grants for associates affected by hurricanes and wildfires.

This past spring, the foundation supported relief efforts following tornados across the southeast this past spring and earlier this month, including the distribution of hundreds of relief kits to support communities hit by Hurricane Hanna while positioning supplies along the east coast to aid communities affected by Hurricane Isaias.