Lowe’s Home Improvement is investing $25 million to support response to the coronavirus pandemic, including $1.5 million for the Charlotte area.

The Mooresville-based company said part of the $1.5 million investment will support the COVID-19 Response Fund and other nonprofit groups in “Lowe’s hometown.”

“To the medical professionals on the front lines and the parents at home faced with homeschooling their children, to the truck drivers and supply chain workers ensuring product is on shelves, and to the team at Lowe’s, your actions have been nothing short of heroic,” Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison said in a statement.

Other company initiatives supported by the investment include:

• $10 million in products such as respirators and protective gear to be donated to medical professionals on the front lines and to hospitals nationwide.
  
  
• $4.5 million for stores to donate products in their communities to serve short- and long-term needs.
• $3 million to support associates, including through the Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund.
• $3 million to help support local small businesses, particularly skilled-trade professionals.
• $500,000 to the American Red Cross.

More money will be used for emerging needs to be shared at a later date, the company said in a statement.

Changes at stores

Lowe’s also announced it is temporarily closing all stores at 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and at 7 p.m. Sunday, effective Monday, to allow time for replenishing stock and to sanitize stores.

The company also is providing workers who need it with 14 days of emergency paid leave. This includes those who are feeling ill, caring for a loved one or faced with hardships such as closed schools and day cares, Ellison said.

“We have also extended our telemedicine benefit through Teladoc to all associates and their families whether they are seasonal, temporary, part-time or full-time, regardless if they are enrolled in Lowe’s medical plan,” Ellison said.

Earlier this month, Lowe’s put 10-item limits on purchases of high-demand items, such as bleach, disinfectants, hand and dish soaps, cleaning gloves, paper towels and bath tissue, bottled water and air purifiers/filters.

This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Lowe’s commits $25M for coronavirus response; $1.5M marked for Charlotte area."