By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
The American Legion Post 233 Lake Orion will now be a little easier on the eyes.
‘We wanted people to feel that they are able to walk in there and there is life in that place,? Alana Hart , District Community Director for the Orion Township Home Depot, said.
Like many projects Home Depot has taken on throughout Orion Township, Post 233 received a grant through the associate-led volunteer program Team Depot.
According to Hart and Commander John Ranville the place has really transformed.
‘It’s been a long road but well worth it, it came out very nice,? Ranville said.
The team’s first goal was to rid the legion from its thick, glass-block window that sidewalk shoppers had to squint through to see what was inside. Then the outside walls were built up to fit three sets of four-foot windows. To top it off, a crew of siding volunteers re-sided the whole building.
The $9,500 grant covered all this and more, including interior refurbishing with leftover money.
It was the second largest transformation the Orion Township Home Depot has volunteered for, just behind the Team Depot project conducted on Fire Station #1 downtown Lake Orion.??
‘We stood across the street from it last week and really felt that it has totally transformed,? Hart said. ‘We really wanted to create an inviting, opening place not only for the veterans but for everyone to enjoy.?
The Team Depot service project is completely volunteer led through Home Depot employees, friends and associates geared towards veterans and nonprofit organizations. It is about giving back to the community, building strong relationships and making a difference, Hart said, utilizing several departments within the store.
After the American Legion was approved for their building updates grant, veterans got to pick out the supplies for the accepted project. Then Home Depot took charge, and voila- a completely new look, feel and street presence.
‘Those glass block windows had to be at least 60 years old,? Ranville said. ‘It’s going to let us look outdoors, see the park, see the trees, see the skies and not feel like a dungeon and be much more attractive and friendly for the public.?
Home Depot has completed several projects already in the Orion Township area, committing to least one project a month.
With the grant project at Fire Station 1 volunteers installed a brand new kitchen. For the Orion Art Center Team Depot repainted the exterior and installed a new air conditioning unit and water heater. The business next to the legion, the North Oakland Vocational Association (NOVA) received a grant for a new paint job inside and a washer and a dryer, a new vestibule, hand built tables. The Veteran’s Memorial also applied, and received the covered stage presentations are held from. Home Depot is also working with them to build a victory garden next spring.
There is a pattern.
‘For nonprofits, big building transformations are very hard to save up for, so we give them that opportunity so they can continue to do their work in the community and give back. I truly believe that if you take care of your community, your community will take care of you,? Hart said.
Hart, who writes many grant proposals for the various projects, said not every project is guaranteed to be approved but that she writes the best proposals she can and hopes for the best.
‘It’s really what we believe in,? she said.