‘Make it a Grand Week’- Olivia Lobertini, The Grand on Central

Cary’s Cave is totally refurbished and reopened on Thursday.

The groups pictured and others not pictured helped refurbish Cary’s Cave.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Cary’s Cave has a newer, brighter look thanks to the efforts of the staff of the Campbell County Children’s Center, volunteers and a new relationship with Lowe’s and its associates. “We have built a wonderful relationship with Lowe’s La Follette,” said Tracie Davis, Chief Executive Officer of the Campbell County Children’s Center.

“The cave enables children to reside in a homelike setting while awaiting Department of Children Services (DCS) foster care placement.  It has been fully utilized over the last several years, but there has not been a designated kitchen area to include a stove and refrigerator until now,” said Davis.  

This project is one of 100 community projects in 2024 that make up Lowe’s Hometowns. The Lowe’s Hometowns grant created a designated kitchen space with extra storage in order for home cooked meals to be prepared on site.  It also provided funding for the resealing of the facility’s parking lot.

There just aren’t a lot of grants out there for brick and mortar and renovations, according to Davis. Given that, it makes this latest project at the Children’s Center with Lowe’s all the more special. “It was brought to our attention of this need in our community, and we saw it as a great opportunity,” said David Trott, Manager of the La Follette Lowe’s.

The biggest change has been to the kitchen. “We now have a stove and refrigerator, cabinets and a microwave,” said Davis.

“We learned about the Lowe’s grant through a connection to the center, and we had to apply, quickly learning how competitive it is to be chosen for this grant,” said Davis. “Lowe’s saw the need and the opportunity to help children in our area. It’s been great to see the progress, and it will serve the community well,” said Trott.

Cary’s Cave, thanks to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, now has six single beds enabling children to have their “own space”, according to Davis, and she adds that SHP was so gracious in providing the beds. “The project took about three months, and it was a strenuous time. Children are returning to the cave this evening,” said Davis on Thursday morning.

“The Lowe’s employees “are workers”. All these local folks from Lowe’s, 15 of them, came in and gutted the cave in a day on a Saturday back in the summer. They filled a double dumpster in a matter of hours,” said Davis.

The shiplap siding makes it easier to have a solid wall, and it really brightens the rooms. The new tile flooring is all across the Cary’s Cave and even in the bathroom.

“This is a safe environment and really nice facility. Food can be prepared, and it is a great place for the children,” said Trott.

“We are so grateful and did not know an opportunity like this existed. The timing has been great, because there have been so many cuts to federal funding. We were not alone in meeting this need, because of Lowe’s and all these good folks,” said Davis.

The Campbell County Children’s Center partnered with the local Lowe’s associates, construction pros and Lowe’s impact partner Points of Light to complete the project. Visit Lowes website and follow #LowesHometowns on social media for more details on 2024 projects.

A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.

Below, take a visit through The Grand on Central.

For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/18/2024-6AM)