According to one of my favorite authors, Herman Melville, “Charity, like poetry, should be cultivated, if only for its being graceful.”
The world can be a cruel and capricious place. We can be turned upside down at any time from natural events—tornados, floods, drought, fires, hurricanes—or manmade causes—crime, domestic abuse, drugs, etc.—the list goes on. But it seems that when tragedy hits home, there is someone in our industry who is willing to open his heart and bank account to help. Lately I’ve noticed a lot of very charitable acts performed by people in self-storage.
Last month, Mike Wood, co-owner of Hawaii Self Storage, pledged $8 million over the next 20 years toward building and furnishing the Oahu’s first-ever children’s receiving home, Ho‘omalu O Na Kamali‘I, which means “safe haven for our children.” He donated $1 million last summer for the facility, which will be run by Foster Family Programs. In addition, Wood is immediately donating another $200,000 for furnishings, fixtures and equipment, plus $400,000 in operating funds
Oroville RV/Boat & Self Storage, Oroville, Calif., is collecting donations of cash and goods for victims of the Ophir fire that tore through the small community of Palermo, Calif., on June 10. The facility’s management team organized the facility as a donation drop-off center two days after the fire, and in less than 24 hours, three storage units were filled with new and used household goods, clothing, furniture, toys, toiletries and non-perishable food items. In addition, the facility is offering two months of free storage to fire victims. Site manager Connie Petersen set up a special bank account in partnership with the Red Cross. Donations should be made out to "Ophir Fire Relief Fund" at U.S. Bank, 2110 Oro Dam Blvd., Oroville, CA95965.
During June and July, Central Self Storage in Walnut Creek, Calif., hosted six blood drives in cooperation with StanfordBloodCenter at several of its facilities in California. The decision was made in response to an announcement that San JoseStateUniversity has decided to ban blood drives on its campus, where close to 1,000 units of blood were previously collected each year by Stanford and the American Red Cross. Due to increased use at area hospitals, StanfordBloodCenter is significantly low in types O, A-positive and B-negative.
These are only a few examples of the kindness and generosity of people in this industry. Bravo to all of you and to the many others out there who have lent a helping hand to victims of disasters.