Giving to those who have nothing to offer in return... there's just something sweet about that, especially when it comes to your local community. Serving others has always been an integral part of my life and something I love to do. So, when I received a text from my Father-in-law (Lowe's Store Manager at Atlantic Beach) a few weeks ago asking if I had an opening in my schedule to take a few photos of volunteers committing their time to a community project here in Jacksonville.
I gave him a ring to discuss the details and found out that the project included serving our local Boys and Girls Club of America. Knowing that it is very likely that at some point our children {as we are currently in the process of adopting through the foster care system} have played on that playground or shot hoops with their foster brothers and sisters there or somewhere like that, our hearts leapt at the opportunity to give back to them by sharing my photography skills with our community by capturing these incredible people that showed up to love on these kids they have never even met. I'll let the project manager and the photos share the rest of the story!
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Meet Andy Frazier, Lowe's Community Project Manager, NE Florida:
Upon learning that our national partnership was transitioning from MDA to the Boys and Girls Club of America, I reached out to the executives at the B&GC of NE Florida to try and set a meeting. Once that was arranged, I met with Darby Stubberfield and identified the Woodland Acres club as one of the most in need. I met with Kevin Carrico, VP of Operations and Sharon London, Unit Director to determine what we could accomplish with the resources we had available.
After a few measurement trips, several calls to companies who provided commercial grade playground equipment and rubber mulch (and a couple of pickup basketball games where the young men at this club reminded me of my age on the basketball court), the dye was cast! Partnering with Market Director Mark Smallwood, we determined how best to include all stores in the Market from Fernandina Beach to Port Orange. Mark championed the effort to get all stores in the Market involved, and a date was set.
Before Photos: {Compliments of Andy Frazier}
Now, what's a project without a few curveballs, right? Well, we had a few, but true to form, Lowe's leaders overcome all obstacles! So they sent the wrong mulch on the first trip and we had to improvise while the new truck was coming......no problem! So as we were unloading 36,000 pounds, a torrential rainstorm came up.....not an issue! Water leaking onto a freshly painted basketball court? Child's play! The incredible volunteers from all 14 stores happily accepted the challenge and came out swinging! Below is a list of tasks performed to make a local Boys and Girls Club a better, safer and more friendly environment for the children of our community. I'm so proud to have been a part of this, and so proud of our Market's ability to come together in a BIG way for a worthy and noble cause. Check this out!
In Progress Photos: {Photographed and Edited by Jackson Pine Farm}
- Built new, secondary commercial playground
- Replaced all border railroad ties
- Re-built and painted raised bed gardens.
-Planted tomatoes, blueberries, blackberries and citronella plants to combat mosquitoes.
- Rebuilt and painted three benches around the playground area
- Planted floral beds around surrounding crepe myrtle trees
- Added three birdhouses
- Painted existing swing sets to match new playground equipment, supplied four new commercial grade swings (and yes, we tested them all out.......for the kids)
- Built trash can holders from composite decking - pressure washed existing playset and touch up painted
- Spread 36,000 lbs of rubber mulch
- Re-painted and re-lined 50'x80' basketball court
- sanded and re-painted backboards and rims, added new nets
- Painted existing knee wall
- Repaired and leveled bleachers, adding paver stones for stability and mulch for aesthetics
- Mulched perimeter of the basketball court to prevent erosion of the sand due to rain
- Secured all loose guttering
- Added drainage rock under all downspout areas
- Pressure washed main building
- Supplied new power outlets around the court and provided weatherproof and shatterproof clear plastic covers
- Landscaped trees along back of the court
- Provided six new indoor / outdoor basketballs (yep, even tested those too.........for the kids)
After Photos: {Compliments of Andy Frazier}
This was a fun project, and I can't wait to see the faces on the kids' faces when they get back from their break! But......that's not all! I put together two grant proposals for the Boys and Girls Club of NE Florida. The first was to Lowe's. Citing all they were looking to do and all that we were already doing to solidify a relationship in the Jacksonville market, we were able to procure a $50,000 donation for the clubs in our area! The plan is for a state of the art club to be built in the Springfield section of town; a rough area that has desperately been trying to go through a revitalization over the last several years. The plan is for a whopping $2.5 million project, so I know the $50,000 from Lowe's was a wonderful addition to the cause! The second grant request was to Apple for a new, state of the art computer lab. These children need the advantage of up to date computer training and operation. No final word back yet, but I'm always optimistic!
So there you have it. A true labor of love, a Market team that rallies to the cry, a Director who supports us in taking care of a community that we truly love, and a partnership that has been built that will stand the test of time. I'm a product of the Tom Browning Boys Club in Maysville, Kentucky. I fell in love with basketball there, learned life lessons there, felt safe there, later worked there in my teens and am so thankful to work for a company who allows me the opportunity to pay it forward.
Andy Frazier
Grateful Store Manager
Lowe's of S. Jacksonville, FL
"Take customer service to the level they expect, then further!"
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Joel and I are very grateful to have been invited to share in this project for these kids. Thanks Lowe's for allowing us to partner with you. And may each of you reading this be inspired to give back, in whatever capacity you are able, large or small.
Happy Serving,
Lauren Jackson
Joel and Lauren Jackson own and operate Jackson Pine Farm in Jacksonville, Florida. Lauren is a designer and photographer. She seeks to make the creative process for clients: simple by offering professional guidance, elegant by creating a practical and tasteful vision, and blissful by fulfilling an authentic experience that exceeds expectations.
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