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A simple request for a price break on building materials for the Grimsley High Boosters turned into a full improvement project, courtesy of a national home-improvement chain.

“We were looking for them to give us a discount,” said Lewis Newman, Grimsley athletics director. “They asked to come out and see what we were trying to do, and the more they looked at it, the more they wanted to help us.”

About 55 employees from nine area Home Depot stores gave up their day off to paint, build and beautify the Grimsley High football stadium.

“We try to do these kinds of projects every month,” said Don Jebb , store manager for The Home Depot in High Point.

Jebb is the district captain for the home-improvement giant’s programs.

The Home Depot volunteers, along with Booster Club member Robert Leonard and some of his construction crew, spent Aug. 24 building picnic tables and a covered dining area and painting storage buildings and stadium walls.

The Home Depot also supplied barbecue grills.

“We had no idea that it would go to this level,” Newman said. “All we had planned was picnic tables and a covered shelter.”

Boosters are hoping that the improvements and free food will become magnets that attract more students to home football games.
So far, the boosters have secured donations from vendors to help feed the students.

“Of everyone we’ve asked for help with this, nobody has told us no,” Newman said.

With all the good fortune coming to the students and athletes at Grimsley, Newman said that the coaches and players are looking to reciprocate.

“Just as people are giving back to us, we want to give back to the community,” he said.

This year, instead of rewarding helmet stickers for plays and tackles, the players will receive stickers for community service.

“The athletic department is calling this 'A Year of Significance,’ ” Newman said.

Contact Tiffany S. Jones at 373-7157 or tiffany.jones@news-record.com