84 Lumber Becomes Latest Partner to Support One Heart – Many Hands

 

It’s true that 84 Lumber Company has seen a lot of changes since 1956 when Joseph A. Hardy opened his first cash and carry lumber yard. Today, the company has grown to become the nation’s leading privately held building materials and services supplier to professional contractors, with hundreds of locations nationwide and thousands of employees. One thing that hasn’t changed through the years is a commitment to being a positive influence wherever 84 happens to hang a shingle.

As you might expect, Mr. Hardy and 84 Lumber have generously invested in their own rural hometown, donating to hundreds of local charities and creating a better economic climate that for decades has produced jobs and a strong tax base in Fayette County, PA. But Don Milburn, store manager of the 84 Lumber in Sanford, FL, also recalls that numerous churches in his region of the country were built, foundation to roof, entirely from materials donated by 84 Lumber. Whether it’s Habitat for Humanity, Hospice or Hurricane Katrina Relief, 84 has a record throughout the country for doing good, and doing it well.

 

So, when Mr. Milburn came to learn about our large scale service project slated for June in Orlando, he saw a natural partnership between his employer (that has lots of building materials and likes to help people) and One Heart – Many Hands (that needs lots of building materials and also likes to help people).

 

With a company as large as 84 Lumber, at any give time, there’s naturally a lot of wood, nails, paint, insulation, door knobs, smoke detectors and such moving around the country on trains and trucks. Some of those materials, already on their way to the lumber yard that Mr. Milburn manages in suburban Orlando, will find the willing hands of One Heart volunteers.

 

“This project will be very significant, helping a lot of people,” said Don Milburn. “For the people who are serving (the volunteers) the reward will also be tremendous.”

 

By June 26, 2009 (the close of our week-long project), you’ll find literally tons of 84 Lumber building supplies attached to floors and roofs, walls and fences, wheelchair ramps and windows throughout economically challenged neighborhoods in and around Orlando. Some supplies will be donated; some materials we will be able to purchase at generously discounted rates. What this immediately means for One Heart – Many Hands is that we are blessed with yet another local partner with a strong national reputation. The more such partnerships we can develop, the more people we can serve. Thus, we are encouraged to continue doing all we can to prepare for the arrival of thousands of volunteers who, like 84 Lumber Company, began by simply asking, “What can I do to help?”

 

Would your school, church or organization like to volunteer for One Heart – Many Hands, Orlando 2009?  Click Here to send an email to our staff requesting more information or a registration packet.