News

Posted On: 02/01/2010

ISA coordinates an industry-wide response to the earthquake in Haiti

PlantServices.com

The Industrial Supply Association is coordinating an industry-wide response to the relief effort following the earthquake that recently devastated Haiti.

“The need is great, the time is now,” said ISA member Derek Yurgaitis, business unit director of Sorbent Products Company (SPC) in Somerset, N.J. Yurgaitis and Jessica Polychronis, vice president of procurement and marketing for Industrial Supply Company in Salt Lake City, Utah, began to organize an industry relief effort for the victims of the worst natural disaster to hit the Caribbean in more than 200 years.

“Industry trade associations are the strongest and largest networks that exist in the MRO industry, and we feel this is the quickest way to raise the greatest amount of goods that will be needed in the rebuilding of Haiti,” said Polychronis. “We have been gratified at the response we have received already. We will blend our efforts into those of others who are helping.”

While relief agencies are asking for monetary donations to pay for the immediate need for water, food and medical supplies, this industry response is being organized to collect other types of supplies that will be needed as the impoverished island nation starts the long rebuilding process.

The pipeline for getting goods from company locations to a central staging point for shipping to Haiti has been established. Several groups with experience working in Haiti have been lined up to ship and distribute industry contributions. The United Nations, the Red Cross, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are among those groups.

“We will be adding more recognized groups to the distribution effort as we develop our plans and adjust to the magnitude of contributions,” said Yurgaitis.
The island will need everything that can be used for rebuilding, including industrial supplies, fasteners, electrical equipment, hammers, shovels, machine equipment and safety related items are but a few of the needs.

“Be creative in your giving. Think of anything you have they could use in any way. Other MRO distributor trade associations have agreed to help in this effort,” said Polychronis.

ISA’s goal is to ship the first container of contributions by Feb. 23. Please send your contributions to arrive by Feb. 18.

Contributions of supplies may be sent to:
Haiti Relief Supplies
c/o SPC, A Brady Business
95 Clyde Rd.
Somerset, NJ 08873

Please enclose a detailed packing list. Also include contact information of a company member and the estimated value of your contribution. This information is very important for post-donation follow up. If information or instructions are available in French, please include them as well. The island uses the metric system and U.S. weights and measures.

Monetary contributions to the relief effort are also being accepted.
Send monetary contributions to:
ISA Relief Effort
100 N. 20th Street 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103