This story was submitted as part of the #Pledge1Gives GivingTuesday campaign, which celebrates the many ways our member companies are having an impact around the world.
When a natural disaster strikes, both local and global communities feel the reverberations. Individuals and companies are inspired to give back, donating money or goods to help rebuild after catastrophes, but the CDP reports that most donations are sent within two months of a disaster, trickling off entirely after just six months. At Flexport.org, we know that it can take years for communities to rebuild after hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis, and climate-related events, and the need for resources continues long after the initial recovery phase.
Sending relief to The Bahamas. Credit: Airlink
This is why we use part of our Pledge 1% commitments to partner with companies, NGOs and nonprofits to offer discounted shipping and logistics services and pro bono supply chain advice. We activate in the short- and long-term recovery after disasters, not only helping survivors with temporary needs, but also with rebuilding their lives. Most recently, we partnered with Airlink in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas to ship over 26,000 kg of relief goods to families and communities in need. In partnership with responding nonprofits, we shipped everything from food, tarps and tents to mosquito nets and water tanks, as thousands of people lacked clean water, food or a roof over their head. We will continue to partner with nonprofits in the rebuilding efforts.
This is what we can do with our partners today, but with support from the Pledge 1% community this Giving Tuesday, we can do even more.
We’re excited to launch the Flexport.org Fund in partnership with CAF America and TechSoup, giving everyone an opportunity to contribute to disaster relief by covering a critical piece of the aid delivery process: transportation. All donations to the Fund are tax-deductible and pay for shipments intended for disaster relief or international economic development. With this Fund, you can help families with long-term recovery after disasters, not just immediate relief. Businesses can contribute to shipping goods right when they’re needed, even if the goods are unrelated to their own product lines. And most importantly, nonprofits and NGOs can receive critical funding, enabling them to send relief when it’s needed most, instead of being time and resource constrained. Join us in global action to reach the world’s most vulnerable populations: donate to the Flexport.org Fund, or get in touch with us today.
