Inside a west Charlotte warehouse, volunteers from Lowe’s, Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte, and Habitat for Humanity are racing the clock to deliver priceless gifts for families in need of safe shelter this holiday season.
A bold project is underway to construct 17 tiny homes to be delivered and installed before Christmas Eve to families in Western North Carolina ravaged by Hurricane Helene.
“They’re for the people currently sleeping in tents so they have a warm, safe shelter temporarily while they rebuild their homes,” said Danny Kelly of Kelly McArdle Construction.
City Editor Jack, here. I had the opportunity to peek inside one of these tiny (and quite cozy) homes. Each home is 8 ft x 16 ft, complete with a kitchen, full bathroom, two full-sized beds, and running electricity. Great effort has been made to make each temporary shelter feel like a real home, with furnishings and decor curated by Lowe’s design team.
This initiative is part of Lowe’s $12 million pledge to support relief and recovery efforts in the wake Hurricane Helene devastation in Western North Carolina.
“Lowe’s actually started as a small business in Western North Carolina. For us to be able to give back to the community has been really important,” said Julie Yenichek, Lowe’s Sr. Director, Community Relations.
Lowe’s is purchasing another 50 homes built and delivered by Incredible Tiny Homes at its Newton, TN facility and is partnering with BeLoved Asheville, who is coordinating the tiny home recipients.
With construction underway, NASCAR haulers will begin loading the completed tiny homes on Thursday, Dec. 19 and start delivering to Western North Carolina — just in time for families to have a refuge this holiday season.
“It’s the American dream. To have a safe place with with your family and a place to eat, do homework, and sleep,” said Kelly. “Hopefully this will give [families] a little bit more normalcy while they’re rebuilding their homes.”
