Home Depot Foundation brings massive volunteer effort to Coachella Valley Rescue Mission in Indio

It was a remarkable scene in Indio.

Volunteers were working hard and quickly, pulling off a logistical wonder to make the Coachella Valley Resuce Mission more like home.

“I’m just grateful to Home Depot, to everyone of these people, they’re amazing, and they’re unbelievable,” said Darla Burkett, the CVRM Executive Director.

The massive improvement project includes planting and landcaping, courtyard beautification, and a new outdoor dining area with benches.

The 4 hour project, planned over six months, was directed by Gabe Sneller, from The Home Depot Foundation.

“It is a once in a liftetime type of gift. While we are able to do it, we want to do everything we can to give back,” said Sneller.

They also laid three hundred tons of rock, and, painted new, colorful murals on the walls of the gym, including one for veterans.

A silohuette of a saluting service member was painted by veteran Jay Vickers of Cathedral City, who is also a former CVRM client.

“I owe the recsue mission so much, there is nothing i could do to ever repay that,” said Vickers.

Volunteers also filled supply bags with toiletries and towels to be handed out to homeless people.

The volunteers also built 8 custom playhouses. Six will be given to children of local veterans, and two will stay at the resuce mission.

One of the houses is going to the two grandchildren of Ed and Lidia Agundez of Indio, whose son is in the U.S, Air Force.

“The children are going to be pretty happy to play in their playhouse,” said Ed Agundez.

All the tools and the supplies, valued at $300,000 were donated by Home Depot vendors.

The volunteers started the work at 8:00 in the morning and planned to finish by noon.

Sneller says The Home Depot Foundtaion chose to work with the rescue mission because of how the mission supports veterans, and, because of the mission’s 48 year track record serving the Coachella Valley.