Contributing Author: Ainsley MacDougal | ToolBank USA Summer Intern
ToolBank + The Mission Continues: Operation Military City Salute
ToolBank blue tools were hard at work in the San Antonio community for The Mission Continues Operation Military City Salute – Mass Deployment. Our team had the honor of equipping over 100 veterans from across the country as they worked for five straight days on 60 service projects. These projects included beautifying outdoor areas, painting, building outdoor furniture, gardening, improving drainage, and building a walking trail. Truly incredible work is being done by our friends at The Mission Continues, and we look forward to supporting many more of their mass deployments!
ToolBank hosts build event with The Home Depot volunteers
On June 14, ToolBank USA held a community service event partnering with The Home Depot. Nearly 40 volunteers from across the panhandle’s Home Depot locations met at the nonprofit distribution warehouse in Panama City to help build 20 picnic tables and 20 benches. By the end of this newsletter and after reading a number of our affiliates’ posts, you’ll begin to see a theme with Home Depot builds during the month of June!
Check out our story on the local Panama City news station using the button below!
Check out what’s going on at each of our ToolBanks across the nation. Scroll down to each affiliate and expand the text block to read more about your favorite ToolBank team. All of our affiliates are doing amazing work and we can’t wait to share their updates with you monthly.
Make sure and scroll through the images to the right of our affiliate updates. Most of the updates come with a couple of images related to their article.
Atlanta ToolBank Update:
Atlanta ToolBank Makeover: Back in April, 60 volunteers from Inspire Brands and their vendors came to the Atlanta ToolBank from across the country. They helped clean and organize our campus while also beautifying the front of the building. In an electrifying moment of complete surprise Stuart Brown, Executive Director of the Inspire Brands Foundation, presented a check for $5,000 to the ToolBank team!
Build Day at the ToolBank: The Atlanta ToolBank team recently held an outstanding and productive Team Build Day with sponsors and friends from The Home Depot Foundation. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the volunteers, the ToolBank will be placing over 30 newly built wooden benches and picnic tables around the community.
Baltimore ToolBank Update:
Thank you, Interns! In late June, more than 30 high school interns with MyBGE (Baltimore Gas and Electric Company) constructed park benches at the Baltimore ToolBank. The future electricians, builders, and more showed us their skills and had a productive day. Watch the students at work in our very own Baltimore ToolBank warehouse.
Also, in June, interns from Stanley Black and Decker built six picnic tables and six park benches, which will be donated to The 6th Branch and other local organizations.
Screw Hate: Baltimore ToolBank was thrilled to march in the Baltimore Pride Parade for our second consecutive year! ToolBank locations across the network “pride” ourselves on a policy of acceptance, generosity, and love. We are so grateful for the positive experience and awesome energy that was Baltimore Pride, and we know this momentum will propel us further in our mission.
Charlotte ToolBank Update:
Team Depot Build: Four Home Depot stores (Hickory, Gastonia, South Blvd, and Wendover) came together for a build at the Charlotte ToolBank in June. Picnic tables and park benches were built for Turning Point Academy Middle School. Many thanks to the volunteers from our supporters at The Home Depot.
Duke Energized Charlotte ToolBank: The Duke Energy Internal Audit team visited the Charlotte ToolBank, and their team welcomed them with audit jokes and a list of to-dos! The volunteers helped Charlotte reorganize their shelves, count inventory, and even clean mildew…a super dirty job, but the help is greatly appreciated!
New Program Associate: Charlotte ToolBank is excited to introduce Liza Pratt, our new Program Associate. Liza is currently getting trained to handle all the fun jobs of being a Program Associate. She’ll be ready in no time to help Charlotte member agencies with their tool orders and special event equipment! Welcome to the Charlotte ToolBank team and to our ToolBank network!
Cincinnati ToolBank Update:
We had a Par-Tee! Cincinnati ToolBank’s Par-Tee Golf Outing was another huge success. The Cincinnati team hosted over 100 golfers at The Mill Course and raised over $30,000 for the ToolBank. The team raffled off a bunch of great prizes from Stanley Black & Decker, as well as some top-shelf spirits. The ToolBank couldn’t have done it without the incredible work done by volunteers, staff, board, and sponsors. Laughs were had, and memories were made under the warm June sun, and we look forward to hosting everyone again on Friday, June 6, 2025.
Don’t forget to check out photos from the event by clicking our PHOTOBOOK LINK. Also, congratulations to Graeter’s on their second year in a row winning the ToolBank Par-Tee Golf Outing!
Not your Typical Summer Camp: Summer Manufacturing Exploration began in June at the Cincinnati ToolBank. The kids have brought positive energy to our warehouse and are eager to learn about the importance of manufacturing. They are being taught the ins and outs of trade work, working in teams, and creating their own projects. The kids will also have the opportunity to go on several exciting field trips to COSI in Columbus, as well as visit a number of our friends and supporters at the manufacturing and construction locations. We are excited to see what these kids will accomplish!
Houston ToolBank Update:
Transforming Urban Landscape for 10 Years: On June 20th, the Houston ToolBank celebrated our 10th Anniversary with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The ToolBank received a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Houston for their dedicated loyalty to serving our community over the years. Congratulations on celebrating your 10 years of service to the Houston community!
Nativity Academy of Houston Field Day! Houston ToolBank provided materials for Nativity Academy of Houston’s field day. It’s a joy to see young, happy faces enjoying their community and each other. Watch the kids get their tug-of-war on!
Welcome New Team Members: The Houston ToolBank welcomed two new team members during the month of June. Derick is their new Delivery Driver, and Kayln is the new Operations Coordinator. It is such an exciting time to join the Houston team, and we all want to extend a warm welcome to the ToolBank network!
Better Safe than Sorry: District D Houston hosted its 4th Annual Hurricane Preparedness Workshop in June. With hurricane season commencing, they are preparing as best as they can to respond effectively and efficiently. The Houston ToolBank is proud to partner with District D and to provide disaster response equipment in case of an emergency…which, unfortunately, we all know, took place during the month of July with Hurricane Beryl. Be on the lookout for updates from our Houston ToolBank on how they have been helping with the response efforts, and for the most up-to-date happenings, make sure to follow their social media channels.
Magic City ToolBank Update:
ToolBank USA launched the new Magic City ToolBank in Birmingham, AL, last month and hired executive director Clint Denson. Clint has been working with local municipalities to spread the word about the new ToolBank. He’s been sending marketing collateral to town hall meetings and assisting his local city councilwoman.
In July, Clint will join his fellow executive directors for their rally in Cincinnati. The event will be a great networking and learning experience for the new director, and we’re sure that he’ll have some great takeaways for running our latest ToolBank. We look forward to updating our network on all of the great things going on in the Magic City!
New Orleans ToolBank Update:
New Orleans ToolBank and Home Depot build park benches and picnic tables for veterans
The New Orleans ToolBank is a nonprofit organization working in conjunction with The Home Depot to help local veterans. The organization provided Team Depot volunteers with tools and supplies to build picnic tables and park benches for local veteran organizations like the Bastion Living Community.
“The New Orleans ToolBank is a nonprofit that provides tools and expertise to other nonprofits. Think of it as the nonprofit big box tool department,” said Site Director for the New Orleans ToolBank David Melancon.
Phoenix ToolBank Update:
What a Relief… literally: Everyone knows how hot Phoenix gets in the Summer, which is why the Phoenix ToolBank is so grateful to The Home Depot for their donation of portable AC units. These units are crucial to their Heat Relief Program, a partnership with municipalities to make sure the community stays cool during the blistering heat. The ToolBank now has about six pallets of brand-new AC units!
Not our Usual Type of Tool…BUSINESS Tools: The Phoenix ToolBank was 1 of 16 non-profits nationally to be selected for the Wells Fargo Bono Challenge supported by @Taproot Foundation. The requirement was to present a challenge they were facing within their organization. With the Phoenix ToolBank’s tremendous growth, they identified a crucial need to develop a business continuity plan with a newly established monthly dashboard, designed by their Strategic Business Committee. What they didn’t know about this two-day challenge was how specific it would be to their needs! The ToolBank team had 8 hours of a deep dive into their challenge, pulling apart the unique facets of the organization and evaluating the risks + benefits. They have the tools, insight, and perspective to finalize the plan and lend their experience to the ToolBank USA affiliate partners to keep our mission thriving.
Richmond ToolBank:
Upgrading our ToolBOX: Richmond ToolBank’s ToolBOX program provides lessons and hands-on learning in essential home improvement skills. Currently, Richmond is upgrading its warehouse space so participants can master the basics of plumbing, electrical, tiling, drywall, and home efficiency. They will even offer classes that peek at the systems hiding behind homeowners’ walls so that attendees can better understand the inner workings of their homes. Follow Richmond’s. ToolBOX progress on their social media channels and we can’t wait to share with the network all the great lessons being taught at the ToolBank!
Building Change for Local Trails: On June 18th, volunteers from Our Board got their hands dirty assembling picnic benches that will eventually be placed on Richmond nature trails. These benches will support the Richmond community, and their Board got to have a dose of healthy competition and accomplishment. Check out our Building Change on our website and maybe even sign up for a team build of your own!
Local Testimony of Impact: The YMCA of Greater Richmond shared its story after it completed a project at the Patrick Henry Family YMCA. The Richmond ToolBank equipped them with tools and expertise to build playgrounds and other things for kids to ensure they have a fun summer.
“At the end, when we were asking volunteers who wanted to share their experiences one young adult stood up and said that he was a kid at the Y when he was little through financial assistance and how powerful it was to him to give back and build for other children that would have the same opportunity that he had.”
What a touching, full-circle moment. This is why we do what we do!
9th Annual Hammers and Ales: On June 8th, forty teams of volunteers came together for the Richmond ToolBank Hammers and Ales event. They built 19 park benches and picnic tables that are already being enjoyed at Dorey Farmers Market and Capital Region Land Conservancy.
Check out this reel of the awesome day!
Unveiling a Newly Renovated Woodshop: Richmond ToolBank moved its woodshop to the front of the warehouse and gave it quite the makeover. They can now provide our volunteers with a brighter, more spacious work area and easier access to tools. The ToolBank now has custom-made Building Change carts to greatly improve their Building Change Sessions.
Windy City ToolBank:
