TOPEKA (KSNT) — Volunteers spent Saturday, May 10, landscaping and putting the finishing touches on the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway in southwest Topeka.
The Home Depot partnered with the project once again, donating time, labor and materials to help complete the home.
J.R. Reynolds, an operations manager and community captain, said volunteers spent the day planting greenery and preparing the outside of the home. Reynolds said this marks his third year working with the St. Jude Dream Home through Home Depot.
“It’s just about giving back to the community. St. Jude’s a really great organization, and everybody here is just awesome and able to get the work done,” Reynolds said.
The Home Depot Foundation also provided an $11,000 grant to help bring the home’s vision to life.
The home was designed by Drippé Homes designer Brandi Whisler, who said inspiration for the project came from a former client who strongly supported the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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Whisler said the project is about more than construction — it’s personal.
“You’re designing for someone that you’re emotionally connected to, and then you’re also emotionally connected to the project,” Whisler said. “When you connect those emotions, at least on the design side, it just makes everything a lot better.”
Whisler said many employees at Drippé Homes have children, making the fundraising and volunteer work especially meaningful for the team.
“That’s why we like coming out here with our kids. Getting hands dirty, physically doing labor together, because again, it’s a labor of love,” Whisler said. “Service to others is such a huge part of life and being a wonderful human.”
The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway continues to build momentum, with the next ticket-incentive deadline set for Wednesday, May 14. Anyone who purchases a ticket before that deadline will be entered to win a $2,500 shopping spree courtesy of Sutherlands.
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