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Like Pfizer in Ann Arbor, Eli Lilly & Co. donated drugs and supplies to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.Michigan businesses answer the call for help
Donations and goods worth millions of dollars are heading to Gulf Coast in wake of storm.
Volunteers sort out donated supplies at the Kiss 95.1 radio station in Charlotte, N.C. Thousands of items will be trucked to the Gulf. Ford Motor Co. instituted a program to match contributions made by employees. The company also is offering customers affected by Hurricane Katrina the opportunity to defer up to two vehicle payments; victims also can apply for a $750 disaster relief credit on the purchase of a new or used Ford vehicle.
The GM Foundation and its finance arm GMAC donated $400,000 to the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund. The GM Foundation has pledged up to an additional $250,000 in matching funds for contributions made to the Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund by GM and GMAC employees. The company gave the Red Cross 25 cars and trucks for use in relief efforts. GMAC also s offering loan extensions of up to 90 days.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund donated $350,000 and commits to match $150,000 in employee contributions. The company is offering customers affected by Katrina the opportunity to defer vehicle payments for up to 90 days, on a case by case basis.
Nissan North America said it would donate $500,000 in cash to the American Red Cross and provide 50 full-size trucks to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
Pfizer Inc., is giving $2 million for rebuilding hospital and health care centers and donating medicines and consumer and animal health products.
Farmington Hills-based Hollywood Supermarkets is matching customers' donations up to $10,000.
How to help
Hurricane Information
National Hurricane Center
Relief Organizations:
Metro Detroit companies and their workers, eager to help the hurricane-ravaged South, are donating their money, supplies and time.
Corporate giants such as Ann Arbor drug maker Pfizer Inc. and Detroit automakers have committed as much as $2 million, while smaller operations -- grocery stores, transportation companies and other businesses -- are giving thousands.
Hospitals are readying a statewide response, lining up doctors, nurses and other professionals to help as soon as the region is stable enough to take them. Many medical personnel from Metro Detroit already in the hurricane zone have been out of touch with their families and employers for days because communication systems went down in the storm.
"It's just as devastating as what you're seeing on CNN," said Cindy Criteser, a registered nurse in the Oakwood Health System, who was in Mississippi on Wednesday helping with relief efforts. Criteser said the scene was worse than at the World Trade Center in New York after the September 11 terror attacks, where she volunteered. "There are live people down there. They come up to us crying, 'Can you help us.'"
Companies in Michigan are donating valuable goods and services, ranging from cereal for the hungry to trucks for hauling debris. Many have set up spots for employees to donate to the relief effort and are matching donations given by their workers.
DTE Energy has about 450 employees and contractors, including line workers and tree trimmers, in the area. Most are in Louisiana or Mississippi assisting the utility companies there.
Automakers have sent several dozen cars and trucks and are allowing customers to defer car payments for weeks or months.
Kellogg Co. in Battle Creek is donating crackers, cookies and cereal bars.
The University of Michigan Health System has been asked to have its jet available to transport patients.
And Wednesday afternoon, Northwest Airlines, with its largest hub at Detroit Metro Airport, flew a DC-9 aircraft to New Orleans packed with bottled water, paper towels, batteries and other emergency relief items.
Northwest got special permission to pick up employees and family members from the area. And it brought out a number of "at risk" individuals, identified by local officials.
For now, agencies leading relief efforts are asking mostly for monetary donations, worried that a flood of volunteers and supplies will further strain the shattered infrastructure and recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast.
The Michigan Health and Hospitals Association is working with federal officials to have hundreds of health care workers ready to go when the help is needed.
"My phone has been ringing with people who want to go," said Kay Beauregard, administrative director for Beaumont Hospitals. "They're health care workers and they just want to help."
Among the larger corporate donations:
Pfizer, which has its third-largest drug research hub in Ann Arbor, is giving $2 million, along with medicines and consumer and animal health products.
Midland-based Dow Chemical Co.p. is donating $3 million in cash, retiree donations and products and technology.
DaimlerChrysler AG's U.S. operations, which include Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz and Freighliner, are giving $1.1 million.
"We've all been stunned," said Tom LaSorda, president and CEO of Chrysler Group in Auburn Hills.
"Many in the DaimlerChrysler family or their loved ones have been directly affected, which is why we understand the importance of working together in times of need."
You can reach Sharon Terlep at (313)223-4686 or sterlep@detnews.com.
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