FLORENCE — Members of American Legion Post 11 say it’s hard to recognize the building’s old kitchen.

That’s because veterans, along with volunteers from Home Depot in Florence, have been busy this week doing some much-needed renovations to the kitchen, which was built in the 1950s.

“It’s going to look a lot different when we get through,” said Kaye Hubbell, program designer for Home Depot’s Florence store.

Veterans and store employees have been painting, putting down new flooring and installing new cabinets.

“We’re going to put in granite counter tops, but they will not be in for a couple of weeks, so we’ll have to come back and install those,” Hubbell said.

Mike Montgomery, commander of American Legion Post 11, said members of the American Legion did a lot of the demolition and prep work.

He said the American Legion was approved for an $8,000 grant through the Home Depot Corporation, which along with $2,000 from the legion post, is financing the project. Hubbell said 18 Home Depot employees volunteered for the project.

“What was really great was that several of the young people working here got some first-hand history visiting inside an American Legion hall,” said Phillip Watkins, a veteran and Home Depot employee who is overseeing the work.

Watkins said being able to be a part of the project is a chance for the employees to give back to their community and builds community pride.

He said the grant is a competitive process.

“The grants are approved on needs and how they will benefit the community,” Watkins said.

Montgomery said the renovated kitchen will be put to good use — the legion members do community events from chicken stews to bean suppers.

“Plus, once a month there is a breakfast for the veterans of the area,” Montgomery said.

“If we had to do this ourselves it would have taken us some time. We couldn’t have come in and done it all at once. We appreciate what Home Depot and their employees are doing.”

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.

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