St. Tammany Parish residents can help the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity get much-needed building supplies for new homes June 26 by going to the new Lowe’s store in New Orleans East and buying a Lowe’s gift card.

“This is something new for us,” East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity Public Relations Director Nancy Wood said.

For every gift card bought at Lowe’s on June 26, Lowe’s will match the amount of the card up to $5,000 for in-house credit for East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity, meaning Habitat for Humanity can go into the Lowe’s and get building equipment and tools for their next project. Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that builds low-cost housing for people who want to own a home. The future homeowners end up with a no-interest mortgage on their houses, plus they have to put in sweat equity by actually helping to build their homes.

Since Hurricane Katrina, Habitat for Humanity has built several hundred homes in St. Tammany Parish. Wood said there was plenty of money for supplies after the storm because donations were plentiful. Currently that flow of donated funds has slowed down, and Lowe’s gift card intiative is a big boost for East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity.

This is not Lowe’s first time doing this. According to Lowe’s Public Relations Director Maureen Rich, the gift card fundraiser has been a big success in other parts of the country. She said they put on the event every time a new Lowe’s store opens.

“Some of the communities really go all out and show a lot of support for the idea,” Rich said, “It’s has raised a lot of money for Habitat.” She added the idea is unique and gets Lowe’s customers involved in a worthwhile project.

“It’s sort of a two-for-one advantage for us and Habitat,” Rich said.

Lowe’s has been a major sponsor of Habitat for Humanity International for several years donating money, supplies and employee volunteers to help build Habitat homes.

In St. Tammany Parish, Lowe’s has been a big help to Habitat, Wood said. The Slidell store has sent volunteers to help with construction, plus donated money and supplies. The store has also donated appliances and other furnishings to the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Olde Towne. ReStore is a store where Habitat homeowners can buy furnishings and appliances at low cost to put in their new homes.

Wood said East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity representatives will be at the New Orleans East Lowe’s store all day to tell customers about their organization and maybe sign up a few volunteer home builders. Wood said besides funds, Habitat for Humanity is in great need of volunteers to help in construction.

The new Lowe’s store is located at 5770 Read Blvd. right off Interstate 10 in New Orleans. For more information on the gift card initiative, and on Habitat for Humanity, call their offices at 639-0656 in Slidell or 893-3172 in Covington.