POULSBO — Even though The Home Depot is months away from opening in Poulsbo, its employees made an early contribution to the city this week.
A group of employees from The Home Depot in Silverdale teamed up to erect new playground equipment at Raab Park on Wednesday. Work was expected to be completed on Thursday.
“It wasn’t hard to get volunteers and once they found out it was in Poulsbo, the response was great,†said Kathi Foresee, who headed the group.
Many of the employees at the neighboring Home Depot live in Poulsbo and are looking forward to the Olhava store’s opening some time next year, she remarked.
“We’re opening a store in Poulsbo, so we thought it was important that we make a contribution to the city,†Foresee said, noting that The Home Depot regularly sends volunteers to work on such projects.
The Raab Park project was the first one The Home Depot has done in Poulsbo, but the retailer has completed numerous other undertakings in communities across the nation, she said.
While the project was expected to only take a day, organizing it took about a month, Foresee explained, giving credit to Poulsbo’s Parks and Recreation Director Mary McCluskey for her efforts.
Mary McCluskey’s husband, Ken, said this is one of the many volunteer projects he has been involved in, but his first for Home Depot.
“I’ve done a lot of volunteer projects because I like helping others,†McCluskey remarked, noting The Home Depot has several volunteer groups that are able to complete these kind of projects.
Even though the project seemed enormous, the goal was to get all of the equipment set up before the end of the day, he said.
“I think we should contribute to our communities and show them what’s available when Home Depot comes to town,†Ken McCluskey explained.
While the rest of the volunteers took a lunch break at noon, one volunteer continued the project with a smile on his face.
“I like kids and I like to do anything I can to bring a smile to their faces,†said volunteer Craig Rollison as he worked through the rain.
Building the playground is all about doing something for the kids and helping the community out as well, Rollison explained as the rain picked up in intensity.
“If it was pouring down rain, I’d still be out here, because a little water ain’t going to hurt anybody,†he proclaimed.
