By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – A store whose product line of Craftsman tools has made home repairs easier for millions of customers has joined forces with a non-profit organization to make improvements at the homes of military personnel and veterans across the nation.
“Sears is pleased to be taking part in Heroes at Home, a program of Sears Holding Management Corporation and its partnership with Rebuilding Together, the nation’s largest volunteer-based provider of home repair services,” said Roy Sanders, assistant store coach, home improvement line at the Sears store located in Presque Isle.
Rebuilding Together is a nationwide 501(c)(3) organization. Its goal is to better the lives of those less fortunate, including: families with limited income; disaster victims, such as those affected by hurricane Katrina; and injured military veterans. All donations are eligible tax deductions when filing for U.S. federal tax purposes.
The Heroes at Home program assists with modifications and repairs to veterans’ homes to make life easier, especially for those veterans with disabilities that now require use of wheelchairs and other apparatus to assist in their daily lives.
Sears, a leader in home improvement tools and house wares, knows the importance of making life more comfortable for its customers. Now the business is going a step further, raising funds to make life better for those who’ve served our country.
“We’re in the process of raising funds for military personnel and veterans to do critical home repairs,” said Sanders.
Efforts got under way May 25 and will continue until early June.
“The program runs until July 8. Donations can be made in-store. We’re also doing fund-raisers. We’ve sold hotdogs and soda for $3, we planned a car wash and have a big raffle going on right now on a television with tickets selling for $10 each,” said Donella Leavitt, assistant store coach of soft lines. “Plans include selling snow cones in the store as well, with money raised going toward this program.”
“Tickets are for a chance on a 32-inch LCD HDTV Samsung that retails for $1,100,” added Sanders. “This particular model has a digital tuner built in, picture-in-picture.”
The winning ticket will be drawn on July 8 at noon, said Sanders.
“We’re hoping to have someone affiliated with some branch of the military on hand to draw the winning ticket,” said Leavitt.
Funds raised locally will go into a national pot, explained Sanders. Rebuilding Together has branches across the nation, with three currently listed in Maine. Anyone interested in learning more about the program or starting a division can obtain more information at www.rebuildingtogether.org.
Leavitt said the fund-raising effort isn’t limited to Sears and its staff.
“We’d like to get the mall/other stores involved in some way,” she said.
So far, the Presque Isle store has raised nearly $2,000 for the cause.
“We’ve raised $1,700 locally as a store. That’s all associate- and community-supported,” said Leavitt.
Leavitt said projects covered by Rebuilding Together are quite varied.
“It could involve re-roofing, installing handicap ramps, doing modifications. Repairs are based on a family’s needs,” said Leavitt.
Community and associate support has been going well, said Leavitt.
“Response has been very good. We’ve basically been doing fund-raising efforts on Saturdays, with monetary donations accepted at the cash registers throughout the week. The community, as a whole, has done a great job. Associates have been very active in donating time to support the effort as well,” said Leavitt, noting that customers who are in the military or have a loved one in the military – past or present – have been especially supportive. “Those affiliated with the military in any way are especially generous.”
Leavitt and Sanders are hoping support continues through the first week of July, with donations going toward much-needed renovations in some veteran’s life.
“We’re hoping we can make a difference,” said Leavitt. “It’s like the Sears slogan, ‘where it begins.’ We want this to be the beginning of a better life for those who’ve given so selflessly to ensure a better life for us all.”
For more information about local efforts, contact 768-2080 or visit the Sears at the Aroostook Centre Mall Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
