H-E-B customers raise over $400,000 for West, Texas Community




SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 25, 2013) – Today, H-E-B is pleased to announce a more than $400,000 donation to the American Red Cross as a result of an in-store campaign for customers to support the community of West, TX in the wake of the recent fertilizer plant explosion. In addition to launching the statewide checkstand donation campaign, H-E-B donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross in response to the devastation.

One hundred percent of the donations supported the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts, which include sending relief supplies, mobilizing relief workers and providing financial resources to those affected by the disaster. H-E-B also provided aid in response to the devastation with gift cards and meals to churches, first responders and affected families.

In the wake of the explosion H-E-B activated its emergency response units and integrated into the incident command post, supporting local emergency management and law enforcement. In addition, the H-E-B Eddie Garcia Mobile Kitchen and water tanker mobilized to West and donated much needed meals and water to the victims of the disaster and first responders. Food, water, snacks and medical supplies were donated to local hospitals and nursing home facilities along with baby items such as diapers, formula and bottles to families displaced by the explosion.

Customers were encouraged to donate to West relief efforts as part of a checkstand donation campaign. The campaign offered customers an opportunity to join H-E-B’s aid by adding a donation in increments of $1, $3, or $5 to their total grocery bill. Also customers could elect to donate multiple increments if they wished and no purchase was necessary to make a donation.

“We are committed to providing continued assistance during this heart wrenching time of crisis as many of our neighbors face loss and uncertainty due to the explosion,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B group vice president of public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs. “H-E-B’s donations, along with our loyal customers’ support, helped to meet the immediate needs of our displaced neighbors while also aiding larger relief efforts with the American Red Cross. H-E-B’s tear pad campaign offered a simple and reliable way for our customers to support the communities affected by this disaster.”

The H-E-B Eddie Garcia Mobile Kitchen, a 45-ft. food preparation trailer, can prepare approximately 2,500 hot meals per hour and is easily dispatched to a community in need. In addition, H-E-B created a mobile Disaster Relief Unit (DRU), a 57-ft. trailer retro-fitted with a mobile Pharmacy, Business Center, and ATM window.

Providing aid in times of need is the cornerstone of H-E-B’s Helping Here philosophy, which promises to stand by communities during times of crisis. For more than 100 years, the company has demonstrated its commitment to communities in crisis by donating financial support, emergency supplies, drinking water and food, as well as providing efficient ways for customers to assist those affected by disaster.



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