Lowe’s Brings Home Repairs to the Army 

by Hugo Bravo 

The Salvation Army Tiffin, Ohio, Citadel Corps was chosen by Lowe’s Home Improvement to receive home repairs and much more.  

The work was funded by Lowe’s Hometowns, a five-year program from Lowe’s that is partnering with local nonprofits for large-scale community projects through 2026. 

“Last year, one of our board members said Lowe’s had come to fix the steps at her church,” says Lieutenant James Hughes, corps officer at Tiffin. “She said that she would love to see Lowe’s do the same for our corps.” 

Hughes contacted Sarah Novotny, assistant store manager at Lowe’s Home Improvement in Tiffin. Novotny told him that plans to bring the Lowe’s team to The Salvation Army could begin at the start of summer 2024.  

“Earlier this year, Sarah and the Lowe’s Home Improvement team got a tour of the Tiffin Corps and a scope of the work they would do for our church,” says Hughes. “They learned about what we do here.”  

The Lowe’s Home Improvement team fixed holes in the corps’ walls and repainted the building’s classroom, nursery, hallways, and community room—rooms that donors and volunteers typically see when they walk through the corps.  

Lowe’s also installed new light bulbs that would save the corps money over time. As a bonus, Hughes says, the bulbs even made the bathroom walls look better. 

“Along with providing all the materials and paint, Lowe’s also agreed to donate carpet tiles to install in our community room,” he says. “That room gets very loud and echoey for some of the children and adults with neurodivergent sound sensitivity. Now it will have sound panels and carpet, making it both inclusive and more inviting.”  

Hughes even picked up lessons on painting and tips on maintenance from the Lowe’s team.  

“I’ve been on teams that helped do this type of work before, but it’s much different when you have professionals like Lowe’s who work in hardware and really know what they’re doing,” says Hughes. “Thanks to them, our hallways, lobby, and rooms look brighter, refreshed, and more welcoming. Lowe’s went above and beyond for The Salvation Army.”