Rebuilding Together, Lowe’s Work To Preserve Homes on the Pueblo of Laguna Community

Pueblo of Laguna, N.M., April 7, 2014 – Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit, is teaming up with Lowe’s to provide critical repairs and renovations to three homes and build a playground in the Village of Laguna on the Pueblo of Laguna reservation in New Mexico. More than 125 Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers from area stores and the Albuquerque customer support center will volunteer on April 23-24 to provide critical repairs, accessibility modifications and other safety improvements as part of a $90,000 Lowe’s grant. These renovations will help safeguard the health of local families as they continue to live in their homes.

In addition, Rebuilding Together and Lowe’s will partner with Carter’s Kids to build a new playground for Pueblo of Laguna residents. Carter’s Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and promoting awareness of fitness and self-esteem for America’s youth, was founded by Carter Oosterhouse of HGTV’s “Million Dollar Rooms” and “Celebrity Motor Homes.” Carter will work alongside volunteers and dedicate the new play space to the community on April 24.

The Village of Laguna is one of six villages of Laguna Pueblo which is one of 22 tribes in the state of New Mexico, located 40 miles west of Albuquerque. The settlement is in the valley corridor along the Rio San Jose River. Village of Laguna residents have a vibrant culture and practice their aboriginal belief system as they did before discovery. Among the modern conveniences and economic challenges, the communities maintain the principle of giving and celebrating life with humbleness and strength.

“Thanks to our partnership with Lowe’s, Rebuilding Together is able to provide these families with the needed repairs to make their homes and neighborhood, as well as make the community, a better place to live,” said Charley Shimanski, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. “This is a unique opportunity to work with the Village of Laguna and we are thrilled to be a part of this lasting impact.

Since 2007, Lowe’s has contributed more than $9 million to Rebuilding Together to improve local communities. With the help of Lowe’s Heroes, Lowe’s and Rebuilding Together have renovated and rehabilitated over 1,200 homes and assisted approximately 11,000 individuals, providing low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners with critical repairs, accessibility and safety modifications and energy-efficiency updates.

“It is a pleasure to partner with Rebuilding Together because the work we do, not only benefits individuals, but impacts entire communities,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “Helping our neighbors make much-needed updates to their homes builds a renewed sense of pride and engagement that is contagious to others around them; and the gift of a new playground where the entire neighborhood can gather, strengthens the community.”