​​This article was published on tallahassee.com on August 30, 2016.

More than 20 local Lowe’s employees recently traded in their days off for a week of hard work under a scorching sun, all to benefit the children of Boys Town North Florida.

The community service effort came after the two Tallahassee Lowe’s stores chose Boys Town’s ART Town as its annual Lowe’s Heroes program project. The employees hung new cabinets, built a gravel pathway and installed several pieces of playground equipment, all with materials donated by Lowe’s.

With big smiles and open hearts, the ​volunteers helped Boys Town North Florida check off several needed items from its ART Town playground “wish list” and create a place where children in the site’s care could happily blow off steam, romp around and just be kids.

Since 1983, Boys Town North Florida has been serving local children who are most at risk due to behavioral and emotional problems. In 2015 alone, the site provided direct care for 801 children through its five programs. ART Town, the site’s newest program, opened in January as a retreat where children and families receiving Boys Town services can focus on restoring their spirits and healing their souls. ART Town provides mentoring and tutoring, therapy, family visitations, art lessons and a variety of other activities.