Manufacturers Help Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

GDA Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 11/8/2012 3:02:02 PM

Some vendors have started to help in the relief efforts in the wake of the Hurricane Sandy, which affected the New York Metropolitan area and parts of New Jersey last week.

Aurora donated thousands of new stuffed animals and baby products to Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.), which kicked off a charity for Hurricane Sandy Relief. For Michael Kessler, senior vice preside of sales and marketing, Aurora, who grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ and spent summers in Ventnor, NJ, Hurricane Sandy hit close to home. "We want to help K.I.D.S. any way we can," he said in a statement. "When we heard K.I.D.S. was looking for donations of new toys to help those in need along the Jersey coast and areas affected by Sandy, it was a no brainer to get involved. It's great to see all the individuals and companies stepping forward to help those affected by this disaster."

The National Confectioner's Association (NCA) Confectionery Foundation created a Rockaway Disaster
Relief Fund to aid in the recovery of the community in Queens, NY. One of the hardest hit areas in New York, the Rockaway Peninsula, a peninsula of Long Island in the New York City borough of Queens—and home to more than 10 individual communities including Breezy Point, Seaside and Rockaway Beach—saw water rise as high as seven feet. As a result of the storm, many homes washed completely away or were reduced to rubble. Fires also erupted throughout the peninsula devastating surrounding areas.

Rockaway Beach is also home to NCA member, Madelaine Chocolate. Knowing the severity of the situation on Rockaway Peninsula, several NCA members reached out to the Association asking what they can do to help this special community surrounding Madelaine Chocolate. NCA has also been in touch with many of its members in the areas that received the most damage to ensure the safety of their employees and facilities.

Throughout the month of December, Rosanna Inc., a Seattle-based home décor manufacturer, is donating a portion of its sales to the American Red Cross to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath.
Brooklyn, NY-based Watermark Designs, a manufacturer of decorative fixtures and bathroom accessories, will donate five percent of sales of its faucet collection to the Brooklyn Community Foundation for six months beginning November 15, while Loloi Rugs, a Dallas-based fine rugs company will donate a percentage of all of their sales to the American Red Cross to assist with the East Coast cleanup efforts. "The East Coast was ripped apart by Hurricane Sandy," said Amir Loloi, CEO, in a statement. "By donating a percentage of our sales to the American Red Cross, we feel like we're putting money in the hands of those best suited to help New York, New Jersey and the other affected areas recover and rebuild."