As nearly 100 Lowe's associates from several nearby areas gathered at the Lochland School in Geneva, NY, on a rainy October morning, Cassie Webb, the school's Assistant Director of Continuous Improvement beamed.
We were just excited to hear that we won the grant, and then all of a sudden, we had so many people volunteering. It really brings a sense of unity to Lochland, inclusiveness, and people caring about the residents here and our mission. It's been really amazing.
Established in 1933 as a school for children with special needs, Lochland has since evolved into a home for adults, dedicated to fostering independence and wellbeing in every resident's journey. "We aim to empower individuals to become more and more independent and to seek wellbeing in their own ways," said Anne Bateman, Executive Director of the school. "This Lowe's signature project has really enabled us to get a jumpstart on making this a wonderful place for people to live in and improve their quality of life. We are also able to put accessibility options in place and to be able to put wheelchair ramps to ease the transition for people from outside to inside. We hadn't had permanent, stable ramps up until today".
The Lowe's Hometowns grant for $87,000 provided much-needed repairs and renovation to the entire campus, specifically the Steward House. Built in the 1830s and the main building for Lochland, the Steward house was the centerpiece for the day, being refreshed with paint, landscaping, stonework, drainage, tables, planters, and most importantly, aluminum ramps to aid residents.
Cassie Webb said while all the upgrades are appreciated, it's the functional accessibility modifications that really make a difference, "The aesthetic improvements are amazing, but the accessibility part is what truly matters. Our residents, many of whom use wheelchairs, are incredibly independent people. Now, they'll have the freedom to explore the town and connect with others."
Through the support of the community surrounding Lochland and Lowe's, residents can achieve their own kind of independence.
