Consistently, The Home Depot and Lowes military and veterans discounts rank as one of the most popular topics at The Paycheck Chronicles. Some people love them, some people hate them, and lots of people have an opinion. However, I think it is important to remember that discounts are not the only way that The Home Depot supports the military and veterans. The Home Depot Foundation provides huge amounts of funding, supplies, and labor for veteran-related projects each year, and The Home Depot has corporate policies directly intended to support the hiring and employment of veterans, Guard and reserve members, and military spouses.
The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation is The Home Depot's philanthropic body. In April 2011, The Home Depot Foundation announced a new project aimed to provide safe and affordable housing for veterans. The Home Depot Foundation pledged $30 million dollars for non-profits who specialize in veterans' housing issues. In 2011 alone, the Foundation donated $13 million in cash grants to 596 nonprofits dedicated to serving U.S. military veterans and their housing needs. In addition, The Home Depot Foundation helped organize the donation of $4.3 million in product donation directly to the non-profits. These non-profits then used the money and products to repair and rehab 2700 homes for veterans and their families.
In addition, the employee-led Team Depot participated in almost 500 veteran-oriented service projects in 2011. From building a wheelchair ramp for a disabled veteran, to renovating an American Legion post, from gardening around veterans' graves to modifying a home to accommodate a newly disabled vet, associates from The Home Depot have donated time, supplies and money to support local veterans' non-profits.
Careers with Home Depot
The Home Depot has demonstrated itself to be a supportive employer for veterans, current Guard and reserve members, and military spouses. Not every situation is right , as in a recent case where a California Army National Guard service member was removed from his position as a department manager due to his military obligations. However, I think that the other evidence suggest that The Home Depot has made a sustained and positive effort to support the employment of military folks. They have hired over 60,000 veterans, spent 9 years on the GIJobs Top 100 Military Friendly Employers list, and are regularly included on the Military Spouse Magazine's Top Military Spouse Employers list. The Home Depot has also been recongized several times by the Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve awards committees.
Not every Home Depot store, or every employee, is perfect, and there are clearly lots of misunderstandings about the military and veterans' discount programs. However, it upsets me when I hear people bashing a company that clearly does so much good for veterans, the military, and their families. Please look at the big picture before you get upset about the 10% discount you think that you should have received.
