Team Depot arrives to help with Naselle park

Home Depot employees showed local residents that they understand the impact of hard work and sweat equity.

With the belief in the power of hands-on service, “Team Depot” volunteers joined community members at Lion’s Club Park in Naselle on Thursday to roll up their sleeves and get dirty. To the passersby, the park was spotted with bright orange t-shirts with the word “Team Depot” boldly printed across the chest. Inside, neighbors shoveled loose gravel into wheelbarrows, applied fresh coats of paint to existing structures, and planted new trees along the freshly poured concrete walk in an effort to brighten our community.

“The grant is called Team Depot,” said Megan Tienhaara who helped organize the event. “Home Depot gave us a $3,000 grant to use in their store. They also provided employee volunteers. We had people from as far away as Clackamas. All the volunteers were there on their own time, it was pretty amazing.”

“We understand that volunteering to improve the physical health of your neighborhood by planting trees, developing green spaces and updating school facilities and community centers creates a healthier, more stable community where families can thrive,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president of the Home Depot Foundation.

“Even the kids were helping,” added Summer Johnson. “They were busy and having a great time.” The children, whose orange t-shirts fit like night gowns, shoveled dirt alongside Home Depot volunteers and swept dust off of handprints decorating the walkway.

Tienhaara, together with Johnson, raised money by selling “squares” of concrete to businesses and families.

“We also asked local businesses for donations,” said Tienhaara. “We really want to thank Wahkiakum West, Johnson’s One Stop, Naselle Septic & Excavating, A-1 Readimix, and Naselle Rock. Also involved were Naselle Hardware, Bank of the Pacific, Mike Swanson Realty, Coastal Eye Care, Johnson and Sons Excavating, Northwest Readymix, Valley Cup, Elkhorn Oyster Co., Wilson Brothers Construction and Johnson Forestry.”

Families came and wrote their names in the pathway as well, leaving handprints and bright stones to mark their places.

Committed and motivated neighbors accomplished an enormous amount of important work in Lion’s Club Park this week but more laboring is on the horizon.

“We just received a Templin grant for start on our next phase,” said Tienhaara. “Future plans are to replace the current play structure, create a loop pathway, plant more garden areas, repair the tennis courts, possibly adding a basketball court, and make a walking path around the entire park.”

The Lion’s Club meets every second Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Creative Flair. The project committee invites community members to get involved in future plans and to help with upkeep of the park. Together, Tienharra and Johnson said, “Thank you to all volunteers and donors!”