Stories

#GivingTuesdayCLT would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We are honored to have Lowe’s on board as an Official Partner for the 3rd consecutive year and wanted to take this opportunity to shine a light on how they have stepped up through what has been an undeniably challenging year and have continued to support our local community.

Read this quick Q&A below to learn more about their commitment to our community this year and beyond  in their own words.

As we reflect back on 2020, we have endured two major events as a society that have changed the way nonprofits do business forever- the COVID-19 pandemic and this year’s civil unrest and Black Lives Matter movement. What is Lowe's hope for the Charlotte Mecklenburg nonprofit community as we recover and continue through these times? 

In the Charlotte region, we are fortunate to have a resilient, robust and impactful nonprofit community, which consists of both more-established and grassroots organizations. It has been inspiring to see how they have rapidly innovated and adjusted to serve the needs of the community. 

It’s important that we continue to invest in grassroots organizations, particularly those led by people and organizations who have been disproportionately affected, historically and now during the global pandemic, as we all collectively work to address our challenges with economic mobility that are magnified by the pandemic. My hope is that the community continues to step up, not just through the United Way’s COVID-19 Response Fund, but through unrestricted giving to organizations that are addressing critical needs within our community. We need to continue to focus on expanding opportunity for all, especially those who have historically been excluded. I also hope that through this support, the sector is able to stabilize and innovate so that it may ultimately thrive.  

 

What role has Lowe's already played and will you continue to play/take when it comes to supporting nonprofits and our community through both the pandemic and our path towards racial justice and equality?

Many small businesses, which are vital to a robust local and national economy, are facing extraordinary challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic due to limited access to bank credit, capital and other services. With so many of Lowe’s customers being affected by the pandemic, we knew we needed to step up and provide immediate assistance. We committed $55 million in relief grants with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to support minority-, women-owned and rural small businesses that continue to be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

In the Greater Charlotte area, 119 small businesses have received grants from Lowe’s and LISC, totaling more than $2.36 million. Most of those grants were for $20,000 each and included business owners like Derik Harris, who founded Second Look Construction in 2002. Harris considered the grant a lifeline, and without it he would have had a hard time retaining employees. 

 

What does generosity mean like to Lowe's and how does your company put that into action for the Charlotte nonprofit community?

We are committed to making homes better for all. As such, we believe that this commitment comes to life by doing the work to ensure all people have a safe and healthy place to live, working to make entire neighborhoods stronger and more lasting, and ensuring all have the skills and opportunities to help communities thrive. In 2020, through our annual corporate giving and the Lowe’s Foundation, we invested nearly $11 million to support some of the most critical challenges facing Charlotte today: safe, affordable housing; introducing students to skilled trades; providing access to technology; and boosting small businesses hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are so proud to partner with incredible nonprofits, who continue finding new ways to serve our community during this unique time. 

 

Why does Lowe's think community-wide giving campaigns, such as #GivingTuesdayCLT, are valuable for our city?

Community-wide giving campaigns are so critical to supporting our local community, which is why I love Giving Tuesday and Small Business Saturday. Lowe’s is really excited to support #GivingTuesdayCLT with SHARE Charlotte again this year. During Giving Tuesday, anyone can nominate a Charlotte nonprofit for a $100 Lowe’s gift card. We are constantly looking for ways to help nonprofits in our community and enjoy hearing how gift cards can further their missions, especially during this challenging time. 

 

Thank you Lowe’s for your unwavering support and generosity! 

BONUS GOOD: Lowe’s is offering an extra incentive to inspire financial donations. The first 300 donors who give $50 or more to their favorite nonprofit on December1st through givingtuesdayclt.org will have their donation generously matched by Lowe’s in the form of one $50 electronic gift card.