Self-Storage Companies Launch 2016 Holiday Charity Drives

Update 12/15/16 – Apple Self Storage, which operates 26 locations in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario, Canada, is accepting online gift deliveries for customers and will store them for free until Dec. 24 through its Santa’s Secret Storage program. Interested parties should direct postage and courier deliveries to an Apple storage location. The parcels can then be picked up during the facility’s business hours, Monday through Saturday. After Dec. 24, a monthly service charge of $29.95 will be assessed to customers who wish to continue the delivery-acceptance program, the source reported.

Lighthouse Storage in Tell City, Ind., is accepting donations for “Clothing for a Cause,” which supports court-involved and foster-care children. New and gently used clothing can be dropped off at 1440 Tenth St. through Dec. 30. The organization is seeking packaged underwear, socks and pajamas in all sizes. Donations of small stuffed toys will also be accepted.

“Lighthouse Storage is glad to be part of a very important moment in these children’s lives, and if we can add any amount of comfort to them, we’ve fulfilled our goals,” said Kailee Zuelly, regional manager for Lighthouse Storage as well as director of Clothing for a Cause.

Stor-N-Lock is collecting donations through today for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program at 20 of its properties in California, Colorado and Utah. The company has participated in the program for 10 years and collected thousands of toys, according to a press release.

“Many years ago, we determined that the Toys for Tots program was a charity with the least administrative overhead and with the most impact on the children in the area,” said Alan Jones, a Stor-N-Lock founder. “A toy is given, and that toy goes to a child. How simple can it get? Stor-N-Lock is happy to help out in any way we can.”

Founded more than 35 years ago, Apple Self Storage is family-owned and -operated. Its properties comprise more than 1.2 million square feet of rentable space.

Established in 2012, Lighthouse Storage recently expanded its facility and has a second site under development in Evansville, Ind.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City and founded in 1979, Stor-N-Lock operators 22 facilities in California, Colorado, Idaho and Utah.

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12/1/16 – Ash Properties Inc., the development and property-management company that operates Atlantic Self Storage, is collecting gifts for patients at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. Ash has partnered with Beach Boulevard Flea Market and Christ’s Starfish Foundation for the annual drive. Donations can be made at any Atlantic Self Storage facility through Dec. 10.

U.K. self-storage operator Big Yellow Group PLC has teamed with “The Chronicle” newspaper and other local businesses for its annual Big Yellow Chester Christmas Toy Appeal. The Chester Football Club, a major-league soccer team, is asking fans to help the cause by donating new toys and gifts at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium in Chester, England. The club has participated in previous drives. Last year, players dressed in Santa suits to deliver donations to the children’s ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

“To have Chester FC involved for a third year running with the toy appeal shows just what a great community club they are, and I’d like to thank Jon McCarthy and Jim Green in particular for their help and support,” said Jeff Banks, business-development manager for Big Yellow of Chester. “Chester fans have contributed great numbers of gifts in the past, and I hope they can spare an extra present in their Christmas shopping this year, too, in the knowledge that the gift will go to a child or family in the local area that may not have had a present to open on Christmas day.”

Dainton Self Storage is collecting donations of new and gently used soft toys at its facilities in Redruth and Scorrier, England. The items will be raffled to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charitable group that serves those diagnosed with cancer. The company is also offering customers the ability to store presents in its “Elf Storage” units until Christmas Eve for a £1 donation.

Dainton employees chose the organization as their adopted charity at the beginning of the year. Thus far, they’ve raised £10,000 through several fundraising activities, including the company’s first family fun day.

“We are really proud of our fundraising total and, hopefully, our soft toy collection and Elf Storage will help us end the year on a high,” said Shaun Duncan, operations director.

Stock N Lock Self Storage in Worcester, England, collected 227 boxes for Operation Christmas Child, an initiative of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief and development organization that works through local Christian churches to aid communities in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It’s the fifth year the operator has participated in the drive. Stock N Lock provided wrapped shoeboxes for community members to take and fill, then stored the boxes until they were delivered to the charity last month.

Atlantic Self Storage operates 44 facilities in Florida and Nevada, including four locations in St. Augustine, Fla. The company’s portfolio comprises nearly 4 million square feet in more than 30,000 units.

Big Yellow Group operates 89 self-storage locations in the United Kingdom under the Big Yellow Self Storage and Armadillo Self Storage brand names, with most concentrated in Greater London. Its total portfolio comprises 5.3 million square feet.

Established in 2002 by Paul Maddicott, Dainton Self Storage is the operating brand for self-storage and removals specialist Dainton Group Services. Based in Newton Abby, England, the company operates eight self-storage facilities in Cornwall and Devon, England, and has three others under development. The group also includes Dainton Portable Buildings and Dainton Removals.

Stock N Lock is in the Venture Business Park off Weir Lane. The facility comprises 44,000 square feet of storage space in 680 units, which are individually alarmed and monitored with closed-circuit television, according to the company website.

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11/28/16 – Self-storage operators around the world have launched drives to collect clothing, food, toys and more for various charitable organizations this holiday season. Here’s a summary of how they’re giving back to their communities so far in fall/winter 2016.

Access Self Storage of the United Kingdom is supporting Myton Hospice as part of its annual Christmas Charity Appeal. The company is seeking donations of new and gently used books, clothes games and toys through Dec. 12 at its facility on Read Street in Coventry, England. The goal is to fill a 50-square-foot room at the property, according to the source. Last year, more than 500 gifts were donated during the appeal.

“We’re on a mission to beat our record and make Christmas 2016 the best year yet for patients and loved ones who will be spending this festive season at Myton,” said Nick Hand, manager of the Coventry location. “The collection is a reminder to everyone that there are people out there who really care, and who are happy to put a smile on someone’s face they haven’t even met.”

Maple Leaf Self Storage, which operates 12 facilities in West Canada, is hosting its third “More Food. Less Hunger.” food drive through Jan. 9. The company is collecting non-perishable food items at each of its locations to benefit local food banks.

This year’s goal is to collect more than 1,000 pounds of food, according to a press release. Last year, Maple Leaf facilities collected 800 pounds of food that benefited Calgary Food Bank, Greater Vancouver Food Bank and SHARE Family & Community Food Bank.

Brown’s Moving and Storage will pick up donations from the company’s 10 facilities in British Columbia, while TSM Moving & Storage will transport collections from its two Calgary locations.

Norwalk Self Storage of Norwalk, Calif., is acting as a drop-off site for the Long Beach Fire Department’s Spark of Love Holiday Toy Drive. Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be made at 11564 Firestone Blvd. Founded in the 1950s, Spark of Love works in conjunction with several charitable organizations and provides gifts each holiday to about 400 families.

U-Lock-It Self Storage of Madison, Ala., is sponsoring the Kris Kringle Market, an open-air holiday bazaar, on Nov. 19. Sponsored by the Madison Arts Council and the Madison Parks and Recreation Department, the free community event, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be held at Dublin Park. In addition to food, local artisans and craftsman will display and sell their work. A lantern-making workshop will also be held for children participating in the Dec. 4 Children’s Lantern Parade.

For the fourth consecutive year, Westy Self Storage of Chatham, N.J., is supporting the “Santa Claus Shop,” which offers free holiday shopping for two days each year to more than 500 low-income families and senior citizens living in Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit, N.J. The operator has donated free use of a storage unit for one month as well as use of its facility and a driver for this year’s event, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

Run by a volunteer organization affiliated with Summit Helping Its People, the Santa Claus Shop has been in operation for 50 years. Guests, who are referred by social-service agencies, also enjoy complimentary refreshments provided by local businesses and gift wrapping by volunteers. Each guest is invited to personally select a household item, new clothing for each member of his immediate family, hats and mittens, a book, and a new toy for each child.

“Santa Claus Shop provides a compassionate service to others,” said Tim Mincin, district director of Westy Self Storage. “It is our pleasure to assist a group that benefits so many in need.”

Westy Self Storage of Hackensack, N.J., is hosting a food drive through Dec. 15 to benefit the Center for Food Action (CFA), which provides emergency services to residents of North New Jersey. Donations of non-perishable foods can be dropped off at 65 Commerce Way during the facility office hours. “It is with great pleasure that we assist CFA,” Mincin said. “It is important to remember those in need, especially in our own communities.”

Headquartered in Englewood, CFA has sites in Fairview, Hackensack, Mahwah, Ridgefield, Ringwood and Saddle Brook. It provides food, housing and utility and heating assistance, and offers counseling and advocacy services to low-income individuals and families, according to Jennifer Johnson, CFA director of communications and community relations.

Access Self Storage operates more than 50 facilities in the U.K., with a large concentration in Greater London.

Maple Leaf is a privately held, Canadian-owned and -operated company based in West Vancouver, British Columbia.

Norwalk Self Storage offers records storage and vehicle storage in addition to traditional storage. It also sells moving and packing supplies.

U-Lock-It Storage comprises more than 130,000 square feet of storage space. It also offers vehicle storage.

Founded in 1990, Westy Self Storage is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. The company's portfolio of 15 facilities spans Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.