Washington Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1879 and its Rescue services were added in 1961 to serve the residents of the City of Washington and the surrounding communities for any and all Fire and Medical Emergencies. The funds from the Lowe’s Hometown Grant will update and renovate the station kitchen with new cabinets, appliances, countertops and flooring. In doing so, this will provide full time staff and dedicated volunteers with a source of comfort for all they do as well as provide the community of Washington, Illinois a gathering place when needed.

Our Place supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live meaningful, productive, socially connected lives in their home community. With the Lowe’s Hometowns grant, Our Place will renovate a recently purchased old church building to make the front door and bathrooms accessible, add key fob security access to the entrance doors, renovate an art room for participants, resurface the front walkway and back stairwell for safety. This project will ensure that Our Place is safe and accessible for our participants with disabilities.

Breakthrough has provided shelter, food, education, youth development, employment support, and behavioral health services in East Garfield Park for over 25 years, serving more than 20,000 individuals annually. With support from the Lowe’s Hometowns grant, the Breakthrough FamilyPlex will undergo renovations, including resealed gym flooring, new wall padding, and fresh paint in several classrooms and community spaces. These upgrades will create a safer, more engaging environment for educational programs and activities for youth and families.

Off the Street Club is Chicago’s oldest youth center and offers the children of Garfield Park neighborhood a safe place to laugh, dream and reach their full potential. Whether shooting hoops, engaging in one-on-one mentoring or laughing over games, the organization creates a sanctuary where kids can leave their worries behind and envision and achieve a brighter future. The Lowe’s Hometowns grant will help Off the Street Club replace windows and complete critical masonry repairs to ensure the building is a safe, more comfortable and welcoming environment for the children it serves.

Through Lowe's Hometowns, the PODER HQ outdoor plaza will receive a community mural and landscaping as a symbol of all the vital, inspiring work that is being done. PODER’s deep commitment to Spanish-speaking immigrants, newly arrived migrants, and Latino/Hispanic residents with integrated English and career pathway programming will be reflected in this powerful mural.

Jane Addams Resource Corporation’s Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation is a project that was envisioned and driven by the Austin community. The state-of-the-art facility will provide access to free career training and support services. The Lowe's Hometowns project will help complete a workforce training hub and include installing electrical, drywall, painting and flooring.

YouthBuild McLean County helps young people, ages 16 -24 who have not completed high school, develop leadership skills, complete their education and gain job skills. Inspiration for this project came from YouthBuild students who expressed a desire for an outdoor classroom, space to decompress or play basketball. Through Lowe's Hometowns, their outdoor space will be transformed with land grading, a water source, pavilion and signage. A sports court and garden beds will be added along with grass, goose nesting boxes and lights.

The Rosewood Heights Dispatch renovation will make it easier for firefighters and officers who are working in the space. This remodel would increase the amount of storage space for fire gear and EMS supplies, enclose the dispatch office and improve the living area where firefighters relax and train.

A pocket park on the DuPage River for the residents of the Greenbrook Habitat for Humanity community will further Habitat’s philosophy to build up communities by bringing people together. The Lowe’s Hometowns grant will provide a suitable gathering place for people to bring their children on a nice day and a community garden. This park will answer a need for the community and go a long way in creating true community spirit.

Project Compassion wants to refurbish its Free Cafe and Laundry facility's deck for access and safety. The accessible ramp leads to the organization's primary entrance. The organization also needs two new washers and dryers to help homeless mothers wash clothing, and they would like to add pantry shelving for families to take nonperishable meals home.