The DeKalb Lowes Home Improvement Center is giving back to the community with its outreach program, The Lowes’ Heroes Program.

At 8:30 a.m. Friday, the Heroes Team was at 24080 N. First St., Sycamore, donating and installing safety equipment at Lester Klasing’s home.

To coincide with senior safety month, the Lowes program has been going to seniors’ home in the DeKalb area and installing safety equipment. Lowes employees have been doing this for the past two years.

Lowes employee and NIU student, Rachel Anderson has been working on the Heroes Team for about a year and said that the program allows Lowes to reach out to the community.

“I’m in DeKalb for college, but I like visiting with the seniors at their homes,” Anderson added. “Sometimes they don’t get a lot of visitors.”

At the Klasing residence, the Lowes team installed carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, a fire extinguisher, battery operated touch lights and a new water heater.

Anderson explained that the typical visit does not include the installation of a water heater, but the Klasing residence had a great need for one.

“He [a Lowes employee] looked at the old water heater and said he had never seen one so old,” Klasing said.

Klasing was excited to have the new water heater and all of the new safety equipment. He explained that because of his age he has had trouble getting around and the Lowes service was appreciated greatly.

The program is made possible by Lowes suppliers donating products to the cause.

Lowes also has a budget to buy products and donate them, Anderson said.

In this instance, the water heater was purchased by Lowes and the installation was donated by another company. All the products were donated to Klasing.

Senior citizens were able to sign up for the program at the DeKalb Senior Center at the beginning of September. Lowes told those interested which equipment is available for them.

Lowes will donate equipment to the DeKalb Senior Center with any remaining funds for the safety month.