Lowe's employees stock D Street homeless shelter with plywood and shelving

The Merced Community Action Agency said that Lowe's sent a truck filled with sheets of plywood, a couple of picnic tables and shelving units to the D Street Shelter for the homeless recently.

More than 10 volunteers, all employees of the Merced Lowe's store, began unloading the plywood that would be used on the 66 bunk beds that the homeless sleep on each night. The volunteers also put together picnic tables and placed them on the patio area. The shelving units will provide more space for the homeless people's belongings, the county agency said in a news release.

Angela Hix is the local coordinator for Lowe's Heroes, the name of the company's local volunteer group. Their motto is "Help the community -- Be a Hero."

"We get a budget of $1,200 a year to spend on projects, but we also do some projects where we just donate our time," said Hix. "The only real criterion is that it must either be a nonprofit organization or something that will really be a benefit to the community." Most of their leads come from United Way or by contacting local places and schools, the news release said.

The Merced store has been involved with the program since it opened here seven years ago.

The homeless shelter is a real blessing according to Renee Mounce, Housing Program manager. As with many programs, funds are limited, so there is seldom extra for things beyond the daily needs of the shelter. "This will provide a much more comfortable night's rest for these people," she said.

-- Sun-Star Staff