Avnil Apicer, Autumn Barkley and Harry Glass, Home Depot Employees, finish building a walkway at South Lakes High School on Wednesday. Photo by Reena Singh.
When Home Depot paint department manager Autumn Barkley was asked the best way to create a walkway for South Lakes High School’s senior all-night graduation party, she decided the Reston store would take care of the project - and cover all the costs.
Barkley said she was motivated not only because the initial design did not look safe, but she had attended SLHS as a teen.
“When I heard it was for here, I was all ears,” she said. “And everyone remembers their all-night graduation party if they had one.”
She and a crew of seven others at Home Depot built a bridge to look like the students were on a walkway up a cruise ship. Barkley said the project would have cost the Parent Teacher Student Association $2,000 to $3,000.
“What we spent was about $1,500,” she said. We saved by using ‘oops paint.’ We used the best wood we could, but we wanted it to be safe.”
The school will be able to use the bridge for years to come.
Reston Home Depot also does pro-bono projects for other community groups like local girl scout and boy scout troops as well as the Herndon Police Department.
“It’s one of the things Home Depot prides itself on,” said Harry Glass, electrical department. “If it weren’t for the community, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. This is a ‘thanks’ for supporting us.”