For Ella Zachery, it was a "full-circle" kind of moment. The Home Depot employee was instrumental in helping to organize a recent beautification project at Cobb's Adult Education building on Hawthorne Avenue in Smyrna. "I actually went to this school when it was Hawthorne Elementary," Ms. Zachery said. "I'm so happy to be involved with this and very happy with how it all turned out!"
Team Depot, the Home Depot's associate volunteer force, supplied lumber, plants, containers, furniture, irrigation, landscaping stone, and volunteer labor—lots and lots of volunteer labor—from Home Depot's Supply Chain team who work at the home-improvement company's corporate headquarters located nearby. More than 150 Home Depot employees took turns getting their hands dirty during the project's three-day schedule.
A sea of orange Home Depot shirts could be seen all over the school's courtyard, digging, planting, and building. More than 80 tree seedlings were harvested around the property to make room for the new landscaping. Thanks to the efforts and involvement of Keep Smyrna Beautiful, those tree seedlings will be made available to Smyrna residents as transplants.
In addition to Team Depot and Keep Smyrna Beautiful, the Atlanta Tool Bank provided shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, and many other hand tools to complete the work. It was a fantastic collaboration between several local nonprofits to show up and help another organization in their community.
But it goes much deeper than being a once-and-done project. Team Depot will return in the spring to plant flowers, vegetables, and other warm-weather varieties, and Keep Smyrna Beautiful has committed to maintaining the greenery after the installation. It is truly by the community, for the community.
Adult Ed Director Dr. Kim Kranzlein said, "The boost of positive energy for staff and students is noticeable. We are so grateful for the community garden that has been provided by Team Depot, Keep Smyrna Beautiful, and Atlanta Tool Bank. We are already enjoying the fruits of your labor—literally and figuratively!"
See "before" photos below to witness the incredible transformation at the Adult Ed building!
