The U-Haul Co. of Illinois is offering 30 days of free self-storage or U-Box container usage to people who’ve been affected by the severe storms and flooding in Central and South Illinois. Families who need more information can contact the U-Haul store nearest them or visit the company’s website, according to a press release.
Participating Illinois facilities include U-Haul Moving and Storage at Main Street in Bloomington, U-Haul Moving and Storage of Carbondale in Carbondale, U-Haul Moving and Storage at University Avenue in Champaign, U-Haul Moving and Storage of Soy City in Decatur, U-Haul Moving and Storage at Allen Road in Peoria, and U-Haul Moving and Storage at Stevenson Drive in Springfield.
"The recent heavy rains and severe flooding in Central, southern and other surrounding neighboring communities throughout Illinois have caused a great deal of damage," said Aaron Freeman, president of the U-Haul Co. of Illinois. "U-Haul has been a part of these neighborhoods for many years, and we'd like to reach out and help these families with free storage. We will continue to help our friends and neighbors during their time of need.”
Through the U-Box program, storm victims can pick up a custom-designed trailer and take a storage container with them. Alternatively, U-Haul can store the container in its secure warehouse, or pick up and deliver it to another location.
Storm victims can also take advantage of the U-Haul Take a Box, Leave a Box program, which enables customers to use recycled boxes at no charge. Instead of discarding reusable boxes and bins, U-Haul encourages local residents to drop them off at the nearest U-Haul location, allowing other people to use them.
U-Haul stores also offer supplies to help residents with storm recovery, such as boxes, tarps, propane and propane tanks, according to the release.
Established in 1945, U-Haul International Inc. has more than 40 million square feet of storage space at more than 1,200 owned and managed facilities throughout North America.
