10/22/2001
Chains Rush to Help in 9-11 Disaster
The terrorist attack on America September 11 left the country
wounded but unified. Many retailing chains were among the first
to lend support, however they could.
Safeway, Pleasanton, CA, went into immediate action after the
attack. \"We put together a checkstand donation program at all of
our 1,759 stores across the country and in Canada within hours
of the tragic events,\" said Steve Burd, Safeway’s president and
CEO. Donations went to the American Red Cross and its Disaster
Relief Fund. \"Our customers and employees rallied to the cause
and have responded generously.\" Donators can add a donation to
their grocery total, or drop donations in canisters at the
registers. Safeway will match donations up to $50,000, as well
as donate up to $1 million from its American flag and flag lapel
pin sales.
Kmart, Troy, MI, was the only mass merchandiser with stores in
Manhattan, and two within two miles of ground zero. \"Kmart is a
neighborhood store and it was never more prevalent than during
the events of the last few days,\" said Chuck Conaway, Kmart’s
chairman and CEO. \"We felt compelled to provide whatever was
needed – blankets, gloves, Visine or American flags – it was
important to us to be sure people had whatever we could offer.\"
\"In the hours that followed this horrific event, we had a few
people who came into the store looking for shoes because they
had lost theirs while running,\" said Kellie Marsalli, Manager of
Kmarts Astor Place store. After the initial attack, needs
shifted to rescuer needs like socks, eye wash, t-shirts and
gloves. The K-Café in the Astor Place K-Mart was turned into a
makeshift rest stop for rescuers. \"Were here to make life as
comfortable as possible for these brave people. If they need
food, clean underclothes or a place to put their head down, we
want them to have it,\" said Marsalli.
Rite Aid, Camp Hill, PA, is among the drug chains responding to
the attack with donations of money and supplies. Stores and
distribution centers have donated over $50,000 of supplies. Rite
Aid in New York City had donated $25,000 to the New York Fire
Fighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund, and Rite Aid Corporation has
donated $25,000 to the United Way September 11th Fund.
In a little over two weeks, Kroger, Cincinnati, OH, raised $5.2
million through their customer and employee donations. “The
generosity shown by Kroger’s customers and employees across the
country has been overwhelming,” said Lynn Marmer, Kroger group
vice president of corporate affairs. “They are showing their
support for the victims and families of the attacks in a variety
of ways, whether by ‘rounding up’ their grocery bill at
checkout, dropping their extra change in Salvation Army kettles
outside our stores, or purchasing commemorative items for which
the profits are donated to charity.” In Louisville, Kentucky,
Kroger donated water, juice and snacks to 10,000 blood donors,
and hot meals to the blood drive volunteers.
Numerous different fundraising techniques were used at different
Kroger-owned stores. King Sooper stores sold “United We Stand” t-
shirts for $10, $7 of which went to relief efforts. Fire trucks
parked outside Smith’s stores in New Mexico brought in as much
as $50,000 of donations in a single day.
“We are grateful that so many Americans including those from
corporate America have demonstrated a willingness to help the
Red Cross provide immediate relief to everyone who has been
touched by these catastrophic events,\" said John Clizbe, vice
president of disaster service for the American Red Cross.
wounded but unified. Many retailing chains were among the first
to lend support, however they could.
Safeway, Pleasanton, CA, went into immediate action after the
attack. \"We put together a checkstand donation program at all of
our 1,759 stores across the country and in Canada within hours
of the tragic events,\" said Steve Burd, Safeway’s president and
CEO. Donations went to the American Red Cross and its Disaster
Relief Fund. \"Our customers and employees rallied to the cause
and have responded generously.\" Donators can add a donation to
their grocery total, or drop donations in canisters at the
registers. Safeway will match donations up to $50,000, as well
as donate up to $1 million from its American flag and flag lapel
pin sales.
Kmart, Troy, MI, was the only mass merchandiser with stores in
Manhattan, and two within two miles of ground zero. \"Kmart is a
neighborhood store and it was never more prevalent than during
the events of the last few days,\" said Chuck Conaway, Kmart’s
chairman and CEO. \"We felt compelled to provide whatever was
needed – blankets, gloves, Visine or American flags – it was
important to us to be sure people had whatever we could offer.\"
\"In the hours that followed this horrific event, we had a few
people who came into the store looking for shoes because they
had lost theirs while running,\" said Kellie Marsalli, Manager of
Kmarts Astor Place store. After the initial attack, needs
shifted to rescuer needs like socks, eye wash, t-shirts and
gloves. The K-Café in the Astor Place K-Mart was turned into a
makeshift rest stop for rescuers. \"Were here to make life as
comfortable as possible for these brave people. If they need
food, clean underclothes or a place to put their head down, we
want them to have it,\" said Marsalli.
Rite Aid, Camp Hill, PA, is among the drug chains responding to
the attack with donations of money and supplies. Stores and
distribution centers have donated over $50,000 of supplies. Rite
Aid in New York City had donated $25,000 to the New York Fire
Fighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund, and Rite Aid Corporation has
donated $25,000 to the United Way September 11th Fund.
In a little over two weeks, Kroger, Cincinnati, OH, raised $5.2
million through their customer and employee donations. “The
generosity shown by Kroger’s customers and employees across the
country has been overwhelming,” said Lynn Marmer, Kroger group
vice president of corporate affairs. “They are showing their
support for the victims and families of the attacks in a variety
of ways, whether by ‘rounding up’ their grocery bill at
checkout, dropping their extra change in Salvation Army kettles
outside our stores, or purchasing commemorative items for which
the profits are donated to charity.” In Louisville, Kentucky,
Kroger donated water, juice and snacks to 10,000 blood donors,
and hot meals to the blood drive volunteers.
Numerous different fundraising techniques were used at different
Kroger-owned stores. King Sooper stores sold “United We Stand” t-
shirts for $10, $7 of which went to relief efforts. Fire trucks
parked outside Smith’s stores in New Mexico brought in as much
as $50,000 of donations in a single day.
“We are grateful that so many Americans including those from
corporate America have demonstrated a willingness to help the
Red Cross provide immediate relief to everyone who has been
touched by these catastrophic events,\" said John Clizbe, vice
president of disaster service for the American Red Cross.
