Publisher’s Message: Giving Back — We Tip Our Hard Hats to Equipment Manufacturers Donating to Hurricane Relief Efforts
Equipment manufacturers from Kubota to Bobcat are important members of small communities all over the world. Their network of dealers gives them the unique capability of working with people and companies on a neighborhood level, and these machine houses become centers for locals to find individual solutions for their construction, landscape, ag and homeowner operations. This dealer network also allows for the nimbleness to quickly help spearhead relief and reconstruction with local knowledge in areas affected by natural disasters or inclement weather. That personal understanding of specific regions and the ability to mobilize machinery rapidly is a powerful one-two punch. So I was extremely pleased and impressed to see the outpouring of philanthropy (both money and equipment) from machine manufacturers for hurricane relief efforts in Texas, Florida and beyond. I thought I’d take the opportunity to highlight some of that generosity. Here goes…
- • More than 60,000 lbs of supplies and food were delivered to victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, thanks to relief efforts organized by JLG Industries Inc.
- • Doosan Bobcat is donating more than $325,000 worth of Bobcat equipment and Doosan Portable Power light towers and generators to assist with Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma relief efforts. The company is also providing financial assistance to affected dealership employees.
- • Manitou Americas has announced a $10,000 donation to the American Red Cross and is challenging suppliers to match their donation through The Manitou Challenge campaign.
- • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers has donated $5,000 to the American Red Cross to assist with Hurricane Irma relief efforts. This is in addition to the $5,000 for Hurricane Harvey.
- • Kubota Corp. announced that they will donate $1 million in relief funds to include monetary contributions and Kubota equipment to national and local charitable organizations.
- • Veteran-led disaster response Team Rubicon began “Operation Hard Hustle” on Thursday, September 14 with equipment and on-site support personnel provided by Case Construction Equipment. Initial operations included debris removal and home demolition near Rockport and Aransas Pass, Texas, where the eye of Hurricane Harvey made landfall.
The greatness of a community can truly be measured by the compassion of its members.
