'Lowe's Heroes' pitch in at Chestnut Mountain: Devote annual service project to boys' center

Thu. October 09, 2008; Posted: 11:22 AM

will host an open house from 1-6 p.m. Oct. 18-19. Info: chest nutmountainranch.org. or call 296-7254.

Drizzling rain didn't get in the way of construction at Chestnut Mountain Ranch on Wednesday.

Employees of the Lowe's at the Glenmark Centre were out at the ranch -- the future home of the Christian faith-based center for troubled boys ages 8 to 16 -- helping do finishing work on the pavilion by the pond.

The "Lowe's Heroes" were busy putting up ceiling fans, installing electrical systems and enclosing the structure's roof. Lowe's donated many of the supplies for the day's projects.

Raffaella Terango, Lowe's human resources manager, said her group of 15 people was glad to be working for a worthy cause.

"With Lowe's Heroes, we pick a project every year to help the community in some way," she said. "This year our project is Chestnut Mountain Ranch."

Lowe's commercial sales specialist Roger Fox said he's glad he pitched in.

"It makes me feel great to know that we are going to be part of helping the young people," he said.

The ranch, located on 224 acres of native forest along Ponderosa Ponds Road, will be a Christian school and home to "reach and restore families in crisis," said Steve Finn, founder and executive director, who was flipping burgers to feed the hungry workers.

In addition to the pavilion, the facility will include two residential homes, an on-site school, an administration/counseling center building, a recreational pavilion, staff housing and sports fields, Finn said.

He said they appreciated Lowe's involvement in upgrading the pavilion.

"This is huge," Finn said. "The pavilion is being used almost every weekend by civic and church groups. It allows us to give back to the community."

He said the fans will make the recreational structure more comfortable in the heat of the summer and the lights will allow people to use it at night.

Fox said he's learning new skills on his volunteer job -- how to connect electrical wiring.

"I'm kind of learning some of this as we go along today," Fox said.

Legally, a certified electrician must oversee the electrical work, so in addition to Lowe's employees, Mark Fuller was working at the site.

He said he got involved in the project because of his connection to Finn, whom he had met through his brother-in-law.

Fuller said Finn had helped him move three years ago when he had a broken arm.

"Steve helped us move with his arm in a full cast," he said.

"I think it's an awesome thing," Fuller said about the ranch. "I can't wait until they get it together [to open]."

Finn said the ranch should be up and running in about 15 to 16 months.

While Lowe's employees were working at the pavilion, just down the road on the property, another project was under way.

Finn pointed to a gravel road where, he said, workers from Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters, a Christian camp in Andrews, N.C., were constructing the second and third floors of the administration/counseling center.

Jeff Hostetler, board member of the ranch, was working with the group and said they are hoping this building will be complete about the first part of November.

Hostetler said the entire facility is being built "by private donations" in order to maintain the integrity of the faith aspect.

And he said they were working on a "debt-free" concept to build as things are financed.

"We've been prudent" with the money, he said. "We want to show [people] they can trust us with what we're doing."

Finn said they are working hard to stay on schedule with the construction, because they are already getting requests for help.

"We are looking forward to reaching these children," Finn said, "And we're proud the community has been so involved in helping build the ranch."

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