Zac Elenchin, Army veteran and store manager at 84 Lumber’s Cranberry, Pennsylvania store
EIGHTY FOUR, Pa. (April 29, 2024) – 84 Lumber is honoring Military Appreciation Month with its yearly Operation Appreciation initiative, maintaining a longstanding tradition with company-wide efforts throughout May. For the ninth consecutive year, the company dedicates itself to recognizing veterans and their families for their remarkable contributions, hosting a range of initiatives throughout the month.
"It is a privilege to offer our unwavering support to our esteemed military veterans and their families," said 84 Lumber owner & CEO Maggie Hardy. "Their invaluable contributions to this nation are admirable, and we take great pride in commemorating their accomplishments."
The company will be supporting veterans in various ways, both internally and outside its company walls.
84 Lumber Shows Its Support
This year, 84 Lumber has committed to the following:
- All associates will be presented with an Operation Appreciation shirt to commemorate the month, and every military veteran or active-duty member at 84 Lumber will receive an additional paid day off to use on a veteran-related holiday, such as Veterans Day or Memorial Day.
- For the first time, the company will partner with the Malone Family Foundation by participating in a celebrity hockey game on May 16, 2024, the designated date for MTV's Mental Health Action Day. The event will spotlight the therapeutic aspects of hockey and will feature 30 current and former NHL players, individuals from veteran and first responder communities, and mental health advocates.
- 84 Lumber has again partnered with the Pittsburgh Pirates to honor veterans during Military Mondays. As the presenting sponsor, 84 Lumber is committed to supporting local military and veteran organizations. This alliance will provide two esteemed organizations a $5,000 grant courtesy of Pirates Charities, matched by 84 Lumber.
- The company will also be the presenting sponsor of the pre-game flag-raising ceremony during all home Pirates games in May. This partnership underscores 84 Lumber's continued support for the servicemen and women who have bravely served our nation.
- 84 Lumber will be taking part in Armed Forces/Fireworks Night when the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Atlanta Braves on May 24, 2024. That same night, 84 Lumber’s Zac Elenchin, an Army combat medic veteran and store manager at the company’s Cranberry, Pennsylvania location, will be throwing the ceremonial first pitch.
- 84 Lumber is once again the presenting partner of the season-long Pirates Military Discount Program, with proceeds going to the Friends of the Pittsburgh Fisher House.
- After much success in 2023, 84 Lumber is working with the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, or HARP, by donating $5,000 to the rescue’s Vets & Pets Program. This donation will allow active military members and veterans who choose to adopt a pet during May to receive 50 percent off their adoption fees. HARP will be extending their Vets & Pets Program into June. Photos of adopted animals with their 84 Lumber gear will be shared on the company’s social media channels, along with information on the Vets & Pets Program.
- 84 Lumber will also be hosting a pet supply drive to collect and donate the most needed pet supplies for HARP. The collection will be held May 6-10, 2024, at the company’s team headquarters. The company will also be sending volunteers on May 29, 2024, to HARP’s Pet Pantry event at their Northside/East Liberty location(s) to assist in distributing supplies to the public.
- Every Friday in May, 84 Lumber will be hosting a call center beginning May 3, 2024. Those interested in careers with 84 Lumber can call and speak with a live recruiter by calling 724-228-1885. The call center will operate from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. EST.
In tribute to those who have served, 84 Lumber is a sponsor of this year’s PBS National Memorial Day Concert which is held annually on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. This year’s concert will be televised on May 26, 2024, on the Armed Forces Network and PBS. Attendees include active-duty service members, veterans, Gold Star, and other military families, along with key decision makers from Congress, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
84 Lumber Spotlights Veteran Zac Elenchin
Part of 84 Lumber’s annual campaign includes featuring an associate who served in the military. Zac Elenchin served in the U.S. Army as a combat medic from 2015-2022 and is now leading the company’s Cranberry, Pennsylvania store as manager. Elenchin did a nine-month deployment to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in support of Operation Spartan Shield from 2017-2018, as well as a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s sentinel, where he was based out of Bagram Airfield. Elenchin was awarded several awards and commendations, including a NATO medal, an Army Commendation Award, Expert Field Medical Badge, and 11 other awards. Elenchin also competed in the Army’s Best Medic Competition, as well as Best Warrior competitions. Elenchin and his father also co-wrote a book together about their time in the military, Zac’s PTSD, and how it’s affected their lives, as well as his recovery. It was when Elenchin medically retired in 2022 that he had to figure out life outside of the military.
“I had heard of 84 Lumber, and when I looked it up online it piqued my interest,” said Elenchin. “I looked up the company on Indeed and saw they were hiring so I applied. A recruiter called me, and two days later I had my first interview. I started as a (manager trainee) on March 21, 2022. It’s (been) a wild ride, that's for sure. I never realized how much of a journey it would be, I'll fully admit that. I thought, you know, I'm going to work here, and I'm going to sell wood. I never thought that, two years later, I'd be having the keys to a store my own store.”
Elenchin will also be featured in The Construction Leadership’s podcast, hosted by Brad Hartmann. The podcast episode will air in June.
84 Lumber is the leading supplier of building materials, manufactured components, and industry-leading services for single and multifamily residences and commercial buildings. The company operates more than 320 facilities in 33 states and is continuing to grow. To learn more, visit www.84Lumber.com or follow 84 Lumber on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
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ABOUT 84 LUMBER
Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, 84 Lumber Co. is the nation’s largest privately held supplier of building materials, manufactured components, and industry-leading services for single and multifamily residences and commercial buildings. The company operates 320 facilities which include stores, component manufacturing plants, custom door shops, and engineered wood product centers in 33 states. 84 Lumber also offers turnkey installation services for a variety of products, including framing, insulation, siding, windows, roofing, decking, and drywall. A certified national women’s business enterprise owned by Maggie Hardy, 84 Lumber was named as one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2024 by Newsweek, and one of America’s Largest Private Companies in 2023 by Forbes. The company also made the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies in 2023. For more information, visit 84lumber.com or join us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.