In the past few months, we’ve posted dozens of news items on the ISS news page about self-storage operators stepping up and helping charitable organizations. Some are sticking close to home, while others find ways to reach people beyond their own communities.
U-Haul is helping victims of a recent tornado in Montana, and a fire in Arizona by offering 30 days of free storage. Many operators across the country have also offered free storage after similar natural disasters. Here’s a sampling of more recent good deeds:
Westy Self Storage, a company that knows a few things about getting involved in its community, is helping with the cleanup efforts in the Gulf Coast. Westy’s 16 locations in the areas near the Gulf Coast are collecting water bottles, towels, paper towels and powder detergent for the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, a wild bird hospital and sanctuary.
Acts of kindness—whether it’s offering free storage, hosting a drive, donating money to a local cause or even sponsoring the local soccer team—show your facility is more than just another local business competing for your customers’ dollars. Getting involved in your community demonstrates you care about the people living there, and want to do your part as a business owner and community member.
If you haven’t reached out to your community, what’s holding you back? Are you concerned you’ll be flooded with requests for free units or monetary donations? Worried about the time commitment? Then start small and slow. Reach out to your local elementary school and ask if they need help with a back-to-school drive. Offer a local charity a free unit for a month. Hook up with a national charitable cause that collects donations for military personnel and their families.
Can you spare a few hours a week to help at your local animal shelter, library or hospital. Nearly every charitable organization needs volunteers. If you’re interested in a particular charity or cause, check the Internet for a local chapter.
If you’re facility supports a charitable organization, tell us about it. How did you get involved and how did you help? Share your story by posting a comment below or join the discussion on this Self-Storage Talk thread.