Self-Storage Holiday-Charity Roundup 2014, Part 1

Self-storage operators around the world have kicked off holiday services and charity drives to benefit a variety of organizations. Here’s a summary of how they’re giving back to their communities so far in 2014. 

• Guardian Self Storage once again sponsored the Dutchess Outreach Susan DeKeukelaere Memorial Coat Drive in October, collecting donations of clean winter coats and jackets. About 8,000 were collected during last year’s campaign. Guardian is a family-owned company that opened its doors in Fishkill, N.Y., more than 25 years ago. It operates 13 facilities in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties. 
   
• Self-storage operator 1-800-Mini-Storage and PODS, a mobile-storage provider, is collecting coats for the Oakland County Sheriff's Office “Coats for the Cold” drive in Pontiac, Mich. 1-800-Mini-Storage is providing drop-off boxes at its facilities in Oak Park and Troy, Mich., while PODS offered use of its portable-storage units at several sites. The new and gently used coats will be distributed to those in need. The drive will also benefit the Oakland County Pet Adoption Center. For every donated coat, a $25 deduction will be taken off the pet-adoption fee, up to a maximum discount of $100.
   
• Access Self Storage of the United Kingdom is supporting several charities as part of its annual Christmas Charity Appeal. This year, the company launched a decoration-donation appeal to benefit Children’s Adventure Farm Trust in Bowdon, England; the children’s ward of Frimley Park Hospital in Basingstoke, England; and The Rowans Hospice in Waterlooville, England. The operator has set up donation boxes at several of its facilities to collect new or nearly new Christmas decorations such as trees, lights, baubles, bells and stockings. Access Self Storage operates more than 50 facilities in the U.K., with a large concentration in Greater London.
   
• San Diego Self Storage (SDSS) is again partnering with Rubio's Mexican restaurant for its 16th annual drive to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. Collection began at all 18 SDSS facilities on Nov. 1 and runs through Dec. 19. Coupons for a free taco at any Rubio's San Diego location were offered to the first 50 donors at each facility. In addition, SDSS invited high school students to participate in the toy drive to earn community-service hours and contribute to the donation effort. The student who collects the most toys will win a Wi-Fi iPad Mini, valued of $299, as well as a $50 gift card from Rubio’s. Last year, SDSS helped collect more than 16,000 toys. Founded in 1972, SSDS is locally owned and operated.
   
• Westy Self Storage of Stamford, Conn., launched its annual “Operation Santa Donation Drive,” through which it collects and distributes winter coats and toys to underprivileged children. A kick-off event was held Nov. 17 at the company’s property at 80 Brownhouse Road. “Dear Santa” letters written by children were on display during the reception. Guests were encouraged to choose one or more letters and donate the items requested as well as provide a coat, mittens and hat. The drive runs through Dec. 12. Westy has participated in the program for nine years. The operator acts as a drop-off for donations, stores the items, and provides a truck to deliver the toys and clothes to Benjamin Franklin School/P.S. 55 in the Bronx.
   
• 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 on Dec. 3-4. Run by a volunteer organization affiliated with Summit Helping Its People, the Santa Claus Shop has been in operation for 48 years. This is Westy’s second year to be involved. Founded in 1990, Westy Self Storage is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. The company's portfolio of facilities spans Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.
   
• Storage 'R' Us, a self-storage company with six facilities in Oklahoma, is sponsoring a food drive this month to benefit community food banks. New customers who donate 15 cans of food will receive $10 off their month's rent at any Storage 'R' Us location. The company has facilities in Chickasha, Duncan, Lawton and Moore, Okla.
   
• Price Self Storage is providing “Elf Storage,” a free holiday gift-wrapping station, at its properties at 1110 W. Foothill Blvd. in Azusa, Calif., and 3951 Murphy Canyon Road in San Diego through Dec. 24. The stations provide rolls of holiday paper, tags, tape and bows that tenants can use to wrap their holiday gifts. Price Self Storage operates 13 properties in California in Inland Empire, Los Angeles, San Juan Capistrano, San Diego and Walnut Creek.