Lowe’s grant paves way for upgrade of facility for special needs students

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle’s special needs students will benefit from a makeover of their classrooms when they return to school next August thanks to a Lowe’s Heroes Grant and the voluntary labor of about 50 Lowe’s employees.
While other classrooms in Hartselle were empty last week, those in the Instruction Resource Center (IRC) were a beehive of activity. Lowe’s Heroes (employee volunteers) were busy painting walls, re-bulbing fluorescent light fixtures, replacing smoke alarms, repairing and upgrading playground equipment and installing new commodes in restrooms. Others helped, too. They included family members of Lowe’s employees, IRC staff members and students. Artist Mikie Sandlin, also a Lowe’s employee, volunteered to paint murals on classroom walls at a later date.
The interior phase of the project was scheduled to be completed by week’s end. The exterior phase, including the repainting of trim and landscaping, was scheduled to follow.
The base grant was for $1,200 and it was used to purchase materials. Lowe’s vendors also pitched in and helped. For example, Valspar, a company paint supplier, matched paint gallon for gallon and Roger D’s furnished a plumber to install commodes in two bathrooms.
She had a special word of thanks for the support and assistance of Tammie Jenson, Lowe’s sales manger.