THE HOME DEPOT 2015 ANNUAL REPORT

A weekend packed with community connections

Myron Gurien, Eli Soto and Team District 327 – Sacramento, California

It was a busy spring weekend for District 327 in the Sacramento, CA area. Associates got involved with two special events.

The Saturday event was the culmination of something that Store Manager Myron Gurien from Store 1080 had been working on for several months. He coordinated a district-wide Autism Kids Workshop. “We wanted to increase awareness,” Myron said. “It's amazing how many families, even within the stores in our district, are affected by autism. The reality is that lives are really changed by autism.”

All 13 stores in the district held special Kids Workshops encompassing sensory skills to get these special children involved. Associates helped the children navigate the different stations.

Planning was crucial for such a successful event. Each store participated on a conference call in February and connected with local organizations. “We really did our homework,” Myron said. “We had touching, feeling and colors. The soap bubbles were a big hit.” Stores created fliers to get the word out, and more than 1,300 children participated in the workshops.

Sunday was another busy day with associates helping at a picnic hosted by the Wounded Warrior Project. One of their mentor volunteers reached out to Eli Soto, Store Manager at Store 6946 in Tulare, asking if THD could organize a Kids Workshop at the picnic. He told Eli he had approached one of our competitors who told him they didn't do outside workshops.

Associates from Stores 8529, 1073, 6615, 8426, 6946 and 1080 jumped at the chance to help. “More than 75 children attended and it was so rewarding,” Myron said. “The organization is very appreciative of everything we do. Our associates loved being involved in both events. They are excited to get the opportunity to work with these children.”

No language barriers at this store

Chelsea Hackman Store 669 – San Diego, California

Part-time Special Services associate Chelsea Hackman at Store 669 approached a couple in the aisles. “I noticed a customer using American Sign Language (ASL) with her husband. I can sign, so I introduced myself and asked if I could help,” Chelsea said. Chelsea has been signing for five years after deciding to take ASL as a foreign language credit.

The customer was looking for advice on several plumbing issues. “She wanted to set up an install appointment and didn't know how to ask,” Chelsea said. “I helped her pick out faucets first.” Chelsea then went a step further. She got approval from her manager and asked the installer to call her at the store 30 minutes before he arrived at the customer's home. “I said I would meet the plumber there so I could continue to interpret,” she said. Before the customer left the store, Chelsea also interpreted while another associate showed her how to fix a window sash and screen.

The installation went like clockwork. “It started with a faucet replacement, but they also needed a pressure regulating valve and supply lines replaced,” Chelsea said. “She felt comfortable with me there; otherwise she said she wouldn't have set up the install. She had a lot of questions.”

In an email to the store, the customer wrote, “Trust is extremely high on the list and finding the right person to complete the job efficiently can be tricky ... I felt safe and instantly knew I made the right choice coming into the store ... Chelsea's ability to make communication go smoothly saved me from a great deal of frustration ... it was seamless.”

Word of Chelsea's ASL skills has spread through the deaf community. “A lot of customers come into my store because they know I can interpret for them,” Chelsea said. “They tell me this isn't their closest store, but they know I can answer their questions.”

Associates bring simpler things in life to family

Dave Jusino and Team Store 4643 – Virginia Beach, Virginia

A customer sought out Store Manager Dave Jusino at Store 4643 and asked for a donation of two plants that a child could simply water and watch grow. The customer told him about her friends whose little boy was undergoing treatment for a rare form of brain cancer. The family was due home from the hospital two days later, and she wanted something bright by the front door to welcome them. She mentioned that the family had been out of town on medical visits for several weeks and their yard was in disarray.

“After the customer had finished talking, I told her I had an idea and asked her to let me brainstorm with my team,” Dave said. “I thought, 'What can we do in one day that will have the biggest impact?'”

Doing what The Home Depot does best, Dave's team soon had a plan in place. The following day, Dave accompanied by Edwin Burgos, Jack Chapman, Chris David, Jedd Groom, Kayla Miller, Pat Smith and Ray Vicha, arrived at the house with a truck loaded of supplies. By the end of the day, the associates had landscaped the yard, spread mulch, planted flowers and hung bird feeders in trees. There was even a canopy swing on the deck.

In a letter to David, the customer wrote, “I cannot thank you enough for your contribution. I thought I could get a few colorful bushes that we could plant in their yard, and The Home Depot has far exceeded my expectations ... while a new colorful yard is not a necessity, it sure will help make them feel good. To be able to take their son out to enjoy the simpler things in life, such as flowers, birds and the garden, will do all of their hearts good.”

“The associates were very happy to be involved,” Dave said. “With any project, you want to make the biggest impact for the longest time. This little boy is very, very sick, and the prognosis is not great. But the garden will be there for the family, and they will remember what The Home Depot has done for them.”

Creating a Customer for Life

Matt Ferguson Store 4802 – Charleston, West Virginia

Store 4802 Lumber Department Supervisor, Matt Ferguson, created a Home Depot customer for life with some excellent customer service. The customer asked him to cut some boards and a piece of plywood into a 2-foot square. “I asked her what project she was working on,” Matt said. The customer explained that her husband had crippling arthritis in his legs and ankles, and she wanted something to help him step up into their van.

“I cut the pieces, and then she asked me if I knew anyone in the area who did odd jobs and who could help assemble it,” Matt said. “I immediately offered to do it for her.”

About 40 minutes later, Matt had built a sturdy platform, complete with a non-stick surface and a handy carrying handle. The customer was ecstatic. “It was Mother's Day, and she said this was like a gift for her,” Matt said. Before the customer left, she made it very clear that she'd be a customer for life and said she would tell all her friends about her excellent experience at The Home Depot too!

Foster child gets birthday party to remember

Chris Davis and Team Store 4113 – Swatara, Pennsylvania

Store 4113 showed a fellow associate and his family a lot of love after they welcomed a foster child into their family. “The associate came into the break room with a big smile on his face,” said Kitchen Department Supervisor Chris Davis. “He started telling me that he and his wife were fostering an 8-year-old boy.”

But when Chris heard that the young boy had arrived with just a trash bag containing one change of clothes, she knew she had to do something, and she knew that the other associates at Store 4113 would want to be involved too.

“We all know how much clothes and shoes cost, and once store associates found out that the little boy had no clothes and no toys, it was crazy”, Chris said. “Associates started bringing in bags and bags of stuff.”

Chris sorted through the donations. She gave the foster parent the gently used clothes and toys to take home immediately. But she had another idea up her sleeve for everything else. “Everyone wanted to see the little boy enjoying his new toys. I found out his birthday was coming up, so I got the OK from Store Manager Scott Saurs to combine our Success Sharing celebration at a bowling alley with a birthday party for the child.”

Chris wrapped all the new clothes and toys, including books, DVDs and even a Nintendo 3DS. Several associates donated gift cards, which covered a bicycle, a tablet and a bunch of board games. “We gave the foster dad a 'new parent' card signed by every associate with the rest of the donation money”, Chris said.

The little boy had a blast. “He arrived thinking he was just going bowling,” Chris said. “Instead, he had a wonderful birthday party, including a Lego-themed cake. Associates at Store 4113 have made a huge difference in a little boy's life.”