Ordinarily I am a glass-half-full kind of person. But when I look at what’s happened to the residents of Florida and the Carolinas this past week I find myself at a loss, especially since it comes on the heels of Hurricane Fiona hitting Puerto Rico and Canada.
The images of Hurricane Ian’s debris and devastation are heartbreaking. And there is no sugar-coating how long and difficult the path to recovery will be. In fact there’s so much to do that it’s difficult to know where to start.
Thankfully there are several great minds who can point us in the right direction, including St. Francis of Assisi, who reportedly once advised, “Start by doing what’s necessary, then by doing what’s possible.”
Here at ALAN, those words make a lot of sense to us
If you look at our Disaster Micro-site right now, you’ll find nearly a score of tangible examples of “what’s necessary,” in the form of the requests we’ve posted for donated logistics assistance. These requests span both for Hurricane Ian and other recent disasters like Hurricane Fiona. They are listed at the end of this e-mail in hopes that you will consider helping us out with one or more of them – or that you will pass them along to any of your members, colleagues or co-workers who might be willing to help.
While supply chain and logistics professionals may not have the medical skills of a first responder or the construction expertise of a rebuilding crew, there’s a lot that our trucks, warehouses, material handling equipment, expertise, hands and funding can do to pave the way for meaningful relief and recovery efforts. And aren’t we fortunate to be part of an industry that can play such a meaningful role?
In closing, allow me to circle back to the quote I used at the beginning, because there’s one part I left out: “Start by doing what’s necessary, then by doing what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
Things may indeed look like an impossible-to-solve mess right now. But with folks like you in our corner, I know that recovery and resilience will happen. Thank you for repeatedly demonstrating that you’re willing to step up and provide help and hope when needed – and for being one of the best and brightest parts of my job. My glass wouldn’t be nearly as full without you.
Sincerely,
Kathy Fulton
Executive Director
What’s Necessary?
Immediate Ways You Can Help The Survivors Of Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Fiona And Other Recent Disasters
Hurricane Ian
Warehousing
- Case 9133: 50,000+ square ft food grade warehouse space in Fort Myers, ambient, prefer racking
- Case 9121: 3rd party warehouse partner in SW/Central FL
Transportation and Transportation Equipment
- Case 9127: Transport 4 pallets home clean up supplies Americus, GA 31709 to Naples, FL 34113
- Case 9130: Box truck for emergency supplies distribution in Lee County, FL
- Case 9130: 40′ shipping container for emergency supplies distribution in Lee County, FL
- Case 9128: 4x 40ft reefer container for mass feeding operation Port Charlotte, FL 33948
Material Handling Equipment
- Case 9134: 2 x Stretch wrap machine with ramp (1 automatic 1 manual)
- Case 9134: 3 x 4500 lb electric pallet jacks
- Case 9134: 40 x 20” x 5000’ stretch wrap
- Case 9134: Rough Terrain Electric Stacker — 3000-Lb. Capacity, 62ft. Lift Height
- Case 9130: Pallet jack and forklift for emergency supplies distribution in Lee County, FL
- Case 9124: Forklift with outdoor wheels for POD sites in SW Florida
- Case 9120: Forklift for Tampa area foodbank
Volunteer
- Case 9134: 6 – 8 Warehouse volunteers for weekday shifts – Fort Myers, FL
Hurricane Fiona
Transportation
- Case 9129: Deliver 4 LTL shipments from SJU to Aguadilla 00603 (6 boxes .40 CBM), San Juan 00909 (4 boxes .26 CBM), Ponce 00716 (10 boxes .66 CBM), Mameyal Dorado 00646 (20 boxes 1.56 CBM)
- Case 9119: Transportation (air or ocean) 5 pallets cleaning and hygiene from Lakeland, FL 33805 to San Juan, PR 00901
- Case 9118: Transportation (air or ocean) 2 pallets humanitarian aid from Port Orange, FL 32129 to Mayaguez, PR 00682
Other Ways You Can Make A Difference
Donate to ALAN. Your financial donations enable us to continue doing the good work that we do after hurricanes and other disasters. In fact, every dollar you donate allows us to provide more than $70 worth of humanitarian aid to those who need it most. Visit http://www.alanaid.org/donate to learn more.
Volunteer with ALAN. ALAN currently needs virtual volunteer logistics coordinators and administrative personnel. There will be additional opportunities for in-person volunteering once the situation stabilizes. To offer a contribution of your time and talent, go to: https://www.alanaid.org/volunteer/. (In the meantime, please do not self-deploy to the disaster-impacted areas, as it could get in the way of current rescue and response efforts.)
If you can fill one of these needs, contact ALAN at [email protected]. Or call 919-808-ALAN (2526). Please note that with the exception of boxes, all of these requests are for the temporary loan of space or equipment; not their permanent donation. Also, please note that we are seeking donations of these services only. We are not looking (or able) to purchase these services.
For the most up to date list of needs – or to get more information about any of these needs – visit our Disaster Micro-site.
