Mall Hands on Deck: The Home Depot Foundation Makes a Difference for America's 250th
Mall Hands on Deck: The Home Depot Foundation GETS TO WORK for America's 250th
This June, the Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service kicked off a new “Mall Hands on Deck” project with volunteers from donated supplies from The Home Depot Foundation and volunteers from Team Depot carrying out major repairs to four sites on the National Mall. The Trust is grateful to The Home Depot Foundation for getting to work on the National Mall to ensure America's Front Yard looks its best for America's 250th anniversary...and beyond.
The service project included important upgrades to volunteer kiosks—the green-topped buildings near the Korean War Veterans and Vietnam Veterans memorials utilized by the National Park Service rangers and Volunteers in Parks (VIP) volunteers which were in need of repair and updates to outdated and inefficient amenities. The kiosks are the place where park rangers and volunteers provide information services for the millions of visitors to the National Mall each year, particularly this year for the 250th anniversary of American independence. Volunteers and rangers at the kiosks also assist families of fallen servicemembers locate the names of the fallen at the memorials built to honor their service. During this project, The Home Depot donated furnishings to enhance the overall safety and comfort for rangers and volunteers at the kiosks.
Foundation volunteers also planted trees to bring additional shade to the horses and officers at the U.S. Park Police Horse Stables and Education Center. In 2021, the Trust led the transformation of the stables facility — replacing and upgrading the original horse stables built in the 1970’s and creating the new Wells Fargo Education Center in partnership with the National Park Service. This exciting project was designed and built by the Trust for the National Mall and entirely funded by private philanthropy, and opened in 2023 thanks to its generous supporters.
Volunteers from The Home Depot Foundation also carried out planting and landscaping improvements at the German American Friendship Garden — planting shrubs, and perennials to prepare for the summer season and visitors for America’s 250th. Situated along the axis between the White House Ellipse and the Washington Monument, the German-American Friendship Garden was first dedicated on November 15, 1988, by President Ronald Reagan and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to commemorate 300 years of immigration and friendship between the two nations.. In partnership with the National Park Service and generous donors, the Trust for the National Mall led the complete restoration of the garden in 2020, and continues to lead projects to restore and maintain this historic space.
The day of service also included a welcome on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial featuring remarks from National Park Service Superintendent Dr. Kevin Griess , Team Depot Captain Travis Talbert, and Trust Vice President of Programs Jeremy Goldstein. Team Depot, the Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, kicked-off the repairs with an incredible team chant that energized the participants and built spirit and enthusiasm that carried volunteers during a meaningful day of work beneath the monuments and memorials.
The Trust shares gratitude for the more than 40 volunteers who grabbed paintbrushes, pulled on their gloves and gathered their paint buckets to clean, paint and install furnishings at the kiosks, plant large trees at the horse stables that will stand for generations, and bring color and vibrancy to the garden on the National Mall with new plantings. The Trust and National Park Service are grateful to The Home Depot Foundation or ensuring that the National Mall remains a vibrant space for all. And, the Trust is grateful that volunteers who staff the kiosk how have a safer, brighter, more efficient space to welcome, greet and assist visitors to the National Mall.
