Retailers Lead Hurricane Recovery Efforts

Central to retailers’ role as community leaders is a commitment to helping residents in times of crisis. In the case of Hurricane Ian, which touched down in Florida last week, that means helping affected communities weather the storm, providing relief, and driving recovery and rebuilding efforts. With stores often on the front lines of these events, retailers are well-positioned to provide supplies, water, shelter, manpower, and more to ensure communities have what they need to recover.
 

Below is a roundup of how retailers are stepping up to serve communities impacted by Hurricane Ian:

Ace Hardware

Local store leaders worked ahead of the storm to ensure stores remain stocked with essential items and helped customers put together hurricane kits.

Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the company would be donating to relief efforts on the ground in affected areas.

Chico’s FAS

Headquartered in Southwest Florida, Chico’s was among the businesses directly impacted by Hurricane Ian. The company is working on efforts to rebuild the community and support team members impacted.

CVS Health

In advance of Hurricane Ian, CVS Health implemented proactive measures across its businesses to ensure continuity of care. In addition to ensuring patients have access to prescriptions and ensure access to emergency services, CVS Health provided community resources and emotional support services to employees.

CVS Health also announced a $1 million contribution in monetary donations and up to $100,000 in product donations to support relief efforts in communities in Florida and Puerto Rico impacted by the devastation of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona.

Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee, Inc. deployed its Disaster Relief Fleet to locations in Florida impacted by Hurricane Ian on Friday. The fleet includes Hy-Vee’s mobile command center, Hy-Vee’s mobile water system (which includes a tank and pump trailer), two Hy-Vee rapid response pickup trucks, and 9 Hy-Vee semis filled with water, ice, snacks, cleaning supplies and protein.

Hy-Vee’s disaster relief team is working with local emergency responders, food banks and nonprofits to assist with efforts specifically in Port Charlotte and Bradenton, Florida. The team will also be working with Operation BBQ Relief to help provide up to 1 million meals to those responding to the disaster as well as impacted residents in Florida.

The Home Depot

The Home Depot Foundation is committing up to $1 million to support immediate disaster relief and long-term recovery efforts in communities impacted by Hurricane Ian. This new disaster response grant takes the Foundation’s 2022 disaster commitment to more than $5.5 million.

Alongside nonprofit partners and Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, the Foundation is providing immediate assistance to communities in need by distributing water and relief supplies, delivering meals, providing shelter and removing debris in the impacted areas as soon as the storm clears.

The Foundation is also shipping more than 1,800 disaster relief kits to Florida to be distributed by Convoy of Hope and other nonprofit partners. The kits, which include garbage bags, paper towels, cleaners, hand sanitizer, scour pads, gloves and N95 masks, will be distributed to people in need and those cleaning up after the storm.

Lowe's

Lowe’s announced it will donate $2 million to support relief efforts in Florida after Hurricane Ian left devastation across the state, causing catastrophic flooding and damage. Lowe's donation will support disaster relief partners and nonprofit Pro customers, helping organizations provide emergency shelter, food and rebuilding supplies to those affected by the storm. Lowe's also will host relief events to distribute critical supplies.

Lowe's Emergency Command Center in North Carolina went into activation on Friday, Sept. 23 to support stores and communities ahead of the storm and in its aftermath. Lowe's has shipped more than 1,000 truckloads across the region to keep stores well-equipped with emergency supplies. The company is poised to deploy its Tool Rental Disaster Response Trailer to Florida to give impacted residents affordable rental options for one-time use equipment such as generators and chainsaws.

Meijer

Meijer is donating $50,000 to the American Red Cross to help provide essential supplies to those affected by the storm.

Publix

Publix Super Markets announced associates will distribute nearly 8,000 gallons of water and 75,000 pounds of ice to individuals affected by Hurricane Ian in southwest Florida. Publix also activated an ongoing donation campaign today, allowing customers and associates to help people affected by the hurricane. One hundred percent of proceeds donated at checkout will go to the American Red Cross.

Starbucks

As communities across North America and the Caribbean are impacted by this hurricane season, Starbucks and The Starbucks Foundation remain committed to supporting disaster relief efforts on the ground, leveraging long-term nonprofit partnerships and tapping into our local Starbucks teams to deliver critical support. 

Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers extended its current in-store community donation benefiting the American Red Cross Disaster Relief, and earlier this year donated $250,000 to the nonprofit in preparation for hurricane season. Winn-Dixie initiated relief efforts with distributions of free water, ice, food and cleaning essentials to more than 2,000 families in the highly impacted areas of Englewood, Port Charlotte and Pine Island. Additionally, Winn-Dixie activated mobile pharmacies to offer preventive vaccines and essential medications in affected areas where stores remain closed.

Target

In response to Hurricane Ian, Target has committed $5 million to local and national disaster response partners — its largest storm-related contribution ever. The donation focuses on immediate needs of residents by providing food, water and other essentials. It also supports organizations that will assist with long-term rebuilding efforts across the region. Funds will be split between multiple partners, including the American Red Cross, Team Rubicon and a variety of local nonprofits. Target’s Team Member Giving Fund is also available to team members experiencing hardship due to the storm. Finally, Target stores across the region are using Target GiftCards to support local first responders and nonprofit organizations in purchasing much-needed supplies.

Tractor Supply Company

The Tractor Supply Company Foundation announced it will donate $100,000 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief to assist residents affected by the hurricane. Additionally, select Tractor Supply stores in the path of the storm will distribute gift cards to local organizations and shelters to purchase supplies such as pet and animal products, tools, tarps, gloves, generators and more. Once the storm has passed and it is safe to do so, Tractor Supply and its Team Members will be helping their neighbors however possible, whether that means ensuring stores are well-stocked with emergency supplies, making those supplies more accessible or simply having Team Members available for support.

Walgreens

Walgreens is supporting storm relief efforts in communities across Florida, Puerto Rico and other areas impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, with $1 million in donations, including $500,000 each to the Florida Disaster Fund and the American Red Cross Hurricane Fund. Walgreens is also continuing to work with both organizations as well as community partners to donate products and essentials such as bottled water, consumables and health and hygiene items. The company is also making disaster support services available to Walgreens team members who may be displaced or in need of additional support.

Walmart

Walmart, Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation are committing up to $6 million to recovery and relief efforts. This support will include donations of essential supplies and grants to organizations providing relief on the ground. Walmart will match customer, members, and associates’ contributions 1:1 when they donate at registers (up to $2.5 million) or through the associate giving program.

Walmart associates are also working side-by-side with state leaders and first responders, mobilizing to bring additional services to impacted communities.

Wawa

As a longtime member of the Florida community, Wawa believes strongly in the importance of giving back and providing support for Florida friends and neighbors during times of need. Following the impact of Hurricane Ian, Wawa has reinforced its commitment to the state of Florida with support to aid in storm recovery efforts. In addition to providing a $500,000 contribution to the Florida Disaster Fund to help aid in recovery efforts, Wawa stores in Florida are providing free coffee and fountain beverages to all first responders in Florida, including police, fire, EMT and the National Guard for all they are doing to support and serve our communities during Hurricane Ian response and recovery efforts.
 
From October 4 – October 16, customers can visit any Wawa Store to add $1, $3, or $5 to their Wawa purchase at checkout to help the American Red Cross Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief Fund. The Wawa Foundation will be matching the first $250,000 in customer contributions to the campaign. In addition Wawa is offering free ice to those experiencing power loss at select locations last week in SW FL and Central FL and has established a dedicated fuel lane for first responders and emergency personnel.

Tags
  • Public Policy
  • Leading in the Community
  • Retail Impact
  • Building Communities

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