Home Depot Foundation mobilizes associates for MLK Week service

The Home Depot Foundation mobilized hundreds of orange-aproned associates across the country for a nationwide Team Depot MLK Week of Service held Jan. 15–25, 2026. Volunteers completed hands-on projects such as building picnic tables, benches and furniture for local nonprofits, with work taking place from Puerto Rico to mainland U.S. cities.

Projects included community builds in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and multiple partner sites where associates repaired outdoor spaces, furnished community centers and supported shelters and veteran organizations. ToolBank USA and other local partners provided equipment and logistics support, enabling crews to stage builds efficiently and scale efforts in several regions simultaneously.

The Foundation framed the week as part of a broader strategy to strengthen neighborhoods, support veterans and expand workforce development under its Path to Pro initiative. Team Depot events like this serve dual purposes: meeting immediate community needs while exposing associates to construction tasks and trade skills that align with Path to Pro training and hiring pathways.

For associates, the week offered practical experience and an opportunity to translate store-level skills into community impact. Stores often released workers for shifts devoted to service builds, and the shared work tends to reinforce team cohesion between hourly associates, store leadership and corporate volunteers. Volunteers reported the hands-on nature of the projects provided real-world practice with carpentry and project coordination that can complement on-the-job learning and formal Path to Pro programming.

From a workforce perspective, the Foundation’s service week reinforces Home Depot’s recruitment and retention narrative by spotlighting a service-minded culture and visible investment in skills development. Supporting veterans remained a stated priority, with builds directed at veteran-serving nonprofits and shelters to improve accessibility and communal spaces. Those projects can bolster the company’s community footprint while connecting hiring pipelines to populations served by veteran programs.

The Foundation encouraged the public to follow activity and outcomes via the #TeamDepot hashtag on social media, offering a way for associates and communities to share progress and celebrate completed projects. The announcement also included background on the Foundation’s mission and summarized impact metrics to underscore the scale of Team Depot efforts nationwide.

For associates and managers, the MLK Week of Service is a reminder that volunteer work is part of Home Depot’s operational rhythm: it meets local needs, provides practical skills exposure and builds internal morale. Expect similar Team Depot opportunities tied to Foundation initiatives this year as Path to Pro and veteran support remain central priorities.