By Kasie Strickland

kstrickland@civitasmedia.com

EASLEY — In conjunction with their “Month of Service,” Home Depot has teamed up with Purple Heart Homes to make life a little easier for some area veterans.

Mack Lane has lived in and around the Easley area for the past 30 years. Accustomed to being active, it came as quite a blow when his mobility began to be challenged first with arthritis and more recently with a diagnosis of lung cancer.

“It’s just hard for me to get around anymore,” said Lane. “I can still do steps, but I don’t dare go down them facing forward anymore, I turn sideways so I can hold the rail with both hands.”

Last Winter, Lane fell down his front steps and injured his back.

“I ended up in two different ERs,” said Lane. “I was so sure it was broken. Luckily, it just ended up being badly bruised.”

That’s when Purple Heart Homes and Home Depot teamed up and decided to build Lane a ramp.

“We had planned to have it finished by Veterans Day but the rain kind of screwed us up,” said David Dowie, Systems Manager at Home Depot and captain for the Purple Heart Homes program in the Upstate area.

Dowie stated that Home Depot along with Purple Heart Homes is currently working on 13 different projects to help out people like Lane, one for every store in the district. Volunteers building Lane’s ramp work at the Easley location.

“From Asheville to Seneca is roughly our range,” said Dowie.

Kane Smith said this was the fifth such project he had volunteered his time on.

“I spent a long time in the United States Marine Corps, so giving back just comes naturally to me,” said Smith. “You do it because it’s the right thing to do but it’s fun too.”

The youngest of 13 children, Lane was in the U.S. Army for two years, deployed in Germany. His wife, also one of 13 children, has been by his side for 52 years. Together, the couple raised three children, have seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He said he never expected any thanks for his service but that this ramp would make a world of difference.

“I’m going to skateboard it!” Lane joked. “No, but in all seriousness, this is just great. I can’t say thank you enough.”

Reach Kasie Strickland at 864-855-0355.

Leon Lewis volunteered his time to build an access ramp for Mack Lane, the latest project for Purple Heart Homes.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_025.jpgLeon Lewis volunteered his time to build an access ramp for Mack Lane, the latest project for Purple Heart Homes. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

Kane Smith said that this was the fifth such project he had volunteered his time on. “I spent a long time in the United States Marine Corps, so giving back just comes naturally to me,” said Smith. “You do it because it’s the right thing to do but it’s fun too.”
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_029.jpgKane Smith said that this was the fifth such project he had volunteered his time on. “I spent a long time in the United States Marine Corps, so giving back just comes naturally to me,” said Smith. “You do it because it’s the right thing to do but it’s fun too.” Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

The youngest of 13 children, Mack Lane was in the U.S. Army for two years, deployed in Germany. His wife, also one of 13 children, has been by his side for 52 years. Together, the couple raised three children, have seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_042.jpgThe youngest of 13 children, Mack Lane was in the U.S. Army for two years, deployed in Germany. His wife, also one of 13 children, has been by his side for 52 years. Together, the couple raised three children, have seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

By Kasie Strickland

kstrickland@civitasmedia.com

Reach Kasie Strickland at 864-855-0355.