Lowe’s Goes All-Out for Boy w/ Autism Who Loves The Store–Making the 4-Year-old an ‘Honorary Associate’

When wandering the aisles of a large hardware store, you can search for everything from garden equipment to painting grills. What you may not expect is that in the appliance section you can also find a giant package of goodwill and compassion.

Lowe’s may be a hardware giant, but they seem to have a soft spot when it comes to a very special 4-year-old from Missouri.

Like most children her age, Jaxon Maples is bright and inquisitive. He also has autism.

From an early age, Jaxon has been drawn to the language of mechanical objects. The hum of a fan, the hum of a washing machine and the cadence of the dryer were some of his favorite fascinations.

Not surprisingly, when Jaxon discovered the appliance section at a local Lowe’s store during a family visit, it was as if she had stepped into her own personal wonderland.

Jaxon’s mother, Shauna Rippee, reveals that her son’s love for the hardware store has turned out to be something of a blessing.

“Lowe’s has been the center of our world, because our world is Jaxon,” he told the Springfield News Leader. “When you have a child who is on the spectrum, he can have massive seizures. We are so grateful to know how to calm him down before he gets into a really bad situation. We just get in the car and go to Lowe’s. “

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But it turns out that Jaxon’s worship isn’t a one-way love story.

When Rippee contacted Lowe’s headquarters to explain her son’s unique situation and ask if they could send him one of his signature associate vests, the generous response far exceeded his expectations.

With the company’s blessing, South Springfield Lowe’s not only procured a vest for Jaxon, they made him an honorary associate and presented him with a generous supply of kid-friendly branded products.

“My team was really inspired by its history and its connection to Lowe’s,” said store manager Marty Davis. “Jaxon’s visit made our team’s day and brought tears to several associates.”

The boy was also gifted with a Lowe’s soccer ball signed by our team, wooden DIY kits, and a small desk fan to help keep Jaxon calm.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced Jaxon’s visits to some degree, he knows that he will always be welcomed at his favorite place with open arms and rotating gadgets.

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The extraordinary bond between a child with special needs and a hardware giant who really cares is a win-win for everyone. Not only can you hang out in your happy place, it’s a good bet that Lowe’s has earned a customer for life.

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