Self-Storage Operators Assist the Poor in Preparation for the Winter Holidays

Self-storage operators in the United States and abroad are helping local charities to feed and clothe the poor for the upcoming winter holidays. Following is a sampling of their altruistic efforts.

Self-storage provider Discount Mini Storage at 1803 90th Ave. in Vero Beach, Fla., is accepting "Hunger Free Holidays" donations of nonperishable food until Nov. 8 to benefit Harvest Food and Outreach Centers, which provide food, employment training and education in Indian River, Orlando and St. Lucie Counties. The donations will help stock the shelves of the Indian River center's emergency food pantry. Suggested items include canned soup, fruit, vegetables, tuna and other meat, as well as peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese, cereal, and other boxed meals.

Guardian Self Storage in the Hudson Valley region of New York is partnering with the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange area on a regional coat drive until Oct. 31. The goal is to collect 1,000 gently used or new coats for men, women and children in Orange County. Donations can be made at five Guardian Self Storage locations. The coats will be professionally laundered and distributed by the United Way through eligible nonprofit organizations.

Last year, 7,000 coats were collected during Guardians annual drive. The family-owned self-storage company opened its doors in Fishkill, N.Y., 25 years ago. It operates 13 facilities in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties.

StoreSmart Self Storage in Fort Myers, Fla., is donating a 5-foot-by-10-foot space to store donations for Blankets & Breakfast 2013, a charitable event that collects and distributes blankets, clothing, toiletries, hand sanitizer, backpacks or bags, and any other necessary items to local citizens in need. Phil Mikel, senior manager at the StoreSmart facility, contacted the organization after hearing it needed a place to store collected goods. The donations and breakfast will be served Nov. 28 by volunteers at Lions Park and Morningstar Baptist Church, both in Fort Myers.

Blankets & Breakfast was founded three years ago by Kerry Constantine, who operates a property-management business. Her third-grade son, Will, was saddened when families failed to pay rent and were evicted during the winter months, Constantine told the source. "Will saw a need in the community and never looked back. Each year we strive to make the Blankets & Breakfast event larger and more productive than ever. There are so many items that we all have that we don't need. It's amazing how much impact we can have when we simply give back," Constantine said.

StoreSmart Self Storage operates self-storage facilities in  Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina and South Carolina.

San Diego Self Storage (SDSS) is partnering with Rubio's Mexican restaurant for the self-storage companys 15th annual drive to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. Collection began at all 18 SDSS facilities on Oct. 24 and runs through Dec. 19. Coupons for a free taco at any Rubio's San Diego location are being offered to the first 50 donors.

In addition, the storage company will conduct a drawing at each of its facilities for a $100 credit toward a self-storage rental for a new or existing tenant. Rubio's also donated a family four-pack of complimentary meal cards. To enter the drawing, individuals may register when dropping off a new, unwrapped toy at any SDSS facility. The drawing will be held on Dec. 20.

Last year the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve delivered 136,976 toys to children in the San Diego county area. SDSS contributed 16,232 toys to the effort. The Toys for Tots campaign has been running for approximately 64 years.

Founded in 1972, SSDS has a network of 18 self-storage facilities in San Diego County and additional facilities in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The company is locally owned and operated.

Access Self Storage is supporting 21 charities across the United Kingdom in its annual Christmas Charity Appeal.  This year, the self-storage provider has partnered with Action for Children, Save the Children, Kingston Foodbank, Acton Homeless Concern, Myton Hospice, When You Wish Upon a Star,  Rainbows and several other organizations, said Kevin Pratt, marketing manager. The self-storage facilities will act as drop-off points, where donations will be collected, sorted and delivered to the various charities. Last year the public support for our campaign was incredible, and we are really hoping that we will be able to top it again, Pratt said.

In Cricklewood, London, the company launched its Christmas campaign to help The Children's Society. Access Self Storage, which supported the charity last year by collecting 5,000 toys across England, is asking for toys and games to deliver to The Children's Society in West Hampstead.

The Access Self-Storage Fulham branch is seeking donations of art materials to benefit Action for Children. The drop-off opened Oct. 18 at the store at 21 Effie Road, Fulham Broadway, London.

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