Home Depot renovates Post 371

Home Depot renovates Post 371

by Jerry P. Skorch, Post 371, Gibbsboro, N.J.

In the January 2015 issue of The American Legion Magazine, Post 371 Adjutant Richard Beswick read that the Home Depot Foundation helped finish the half-done home of a handicapped veteran couple in Idaho. Curiosity sparked him to inquire about this project, and learned from the American Legion Dispatch that posts and other organizations that serve veterans in need could apply for grant funding from The Home Depot Foundation to transform their facilities or housing for veterans.
That’s all Beswick needed to pick up a phone to make an appointment with Sue Clark, associate support department supervisor of the West Berlin, N.J., Home Depot store. Beswick was determined to update Gibbsboro Post 371, because many moons have passed since the post was dedicated in 1947.
As part of The Home Depot Foundation’s commitment to improving the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families, the foundation has donated more than $1 million to improve Legion posts nationwide. “The fact that Home Depot was willing to step up and help an organization like ours is phenomenal,” said Post 371 Commander Brian Hammell. “Financially, there is no way we could do this task by ourselves.” Beswick was given the “green light” to pursue this endeavor.
Rich applied for a grant for a Team Depot Project from The Home Depot Foundation and was ultimately approved. In preparation for the project day, members Richard Buck, John Blaker, Steve Head, Rich Stang, Jim Carley and Beswick removed old kitchen cabinets, painted the wall behind where the new ones were to be installed, changed ice machine filters, installed new electric boxes and switches, repaired tile grout, took down all pictures, plaques and wall hangings, updated plumbing and electrical outlets for the new sink and dishwasher, and generally brought the place up to date.
Then, on Friday, Aug. 14, 2015, 11 Home Depot employees dedicated their days off to changing the appearance of Post 371 by installing new kitchen cabinets, ceiling tiles, sink and countertop, and putting a new coat of patriotic paint on the walls throughout the canteen. It was indeed a refreshing conclusion to many months of dreaming about these results by Beswick, and a welcoming sight to the entire membership of Post 371 - Legionaires, Sons and Auxiliary.
In recognition, and for proper credit due, we would like to salute Corey Lilliston, district manager 233-NJ South; Sue Clark; Chris O’Neill, manager, Home Depot, West Berlin, N.J.; Carissa Diana; Wayne Fleming; Kristin Jost; Jim Gorman; Doug Alspach; Teddy Scott; and Tom Billingsley. The writer apologizes for other names not mentioned, but they are featured in the photograph of the entire army of Home Depot volunteers who worked to help transform our post.
American Legion Post 371 now has a new, fresh face, and is eager to continue to serve its Camden County, South Jersey community for another 68 years.