MILFORD - The Daily Bread Food Pantry’s latest donation wasn’t cans of veggies, pounds of meat or loaves of bread.
Nor were the volunteers behind the gesture some of the organization’s regulars who offer up their helping hands each week.
Instead, in paint-splattered jeans and T-shirts and with the hum of a radio station to accompany them, about 10 Lowe’s employees gave the pantry a unique gift: a facelift.
Under the home improvement giant’s “Lowe's Heroes” program, the store’s Milford location received about $2,500-worth of goods to hand out, said manager Tarcisio Ferreira.
Two refrigerators, two freezers, a sink, a new ramp, blinds, a fresh coat of paint, shutters and storage units were all covered under the budget.
Store employees put in an eight-hour day at the Exchange Street pantry Thursday to carry out the job, after being asked a few months ago about how the "Heroes" program could benefit the town, Ferreira said.
Choosing the pantry was an easy decision.
“They touch so many more people in the neighborhood, the whole community,” he said.
Opened in 1991, the pantry serves between 40 and 60 local families a week and operates solely through the work of more than 150 volunteers, according to Cheryl DeAngelo, the pantry's manager.
Clients pick up goods on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
With the extra fridge and freezer space, the pantry will be able to offer more food to those it serves, DeAngelo said.
“I’m just amazed that they can come in and not only offer their talent, but offer the appliances. They’re giving back to the community, which is really awesome.”
The Milford Lowe’s takes part in the program a few times a year, Ferreira said.
“I love this,” he said while taking a quick break on the job, six hours of work under his belt. “This is the best part of it.”
Christopher Gavin can be reached at 508 634-7582 or cgavin@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @c_gavinMDN
