[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I don’t know about you. But I’m a huge fan of January.
I really enjoy the fresh start that each new calendar year brings. And I’m especially excited this year, because it’s a start of a new decade – and not just for the calendar.
You see, it was ten years ago that I started working here at ALAN, a journey that has undoubtedly been one of the best and brightest of my life.
In honor of that milestone I hope you’ll allow me to take a quick look back – and share a random but meaningful selection of memories from each of the last ten years.
These are by no means the only disasters, educational projects or good works ALAN has had a hand in over the past decade (that would require a massive document, not a short blog). But they are a good example of the many types of help, hope – and disaster preparation and resilience –we’ve been privileged to help provide.
I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed recalling them. Just as important, I hope that you feel a huge amount of pride, because you and your contributions are huge part of what made these achievements possible.
So happy new year – and thank you.
Kathy
ALAN’s Highlights
2010-2020
January 2010 – After a major earthquake hits Haiti, vital rescue equipment that ALAN helps transport to the island is heavily used by Haiti’s Urban Search and Rescue team. We also help organize an overnight transport (courtesy of UPS) to help meet a military aircraft at Homestead Air Force Base.
March 2011 – ALAN participates in a project at ProMat to pack meals for the Greater Chicago Food Depository in partnership with Feeding America and MHI – one of just many examples of how volunteer hours and several organizations working in concert can make a hugely positive impact.
October 2012 – As Superstorm Sandy pummels the Northeast, ALAN is there to provide logistics support to various non-profits – and supply information on fuel availability, road status, curfews, and more to businesses in order to enable supply chain continuity.
August 2013 – We are saddened to lose our beloved founder, Jock Menzies, far too soon. However we resolve to continue the wonderful organization and good work he started. And thanks to generous donors like you, we’ve been able to.
Winter-Spring 2014 – As Ebola threatens many part of West Africa, ALAN partners with Airlink and LIFT Non-Profit Logistics to help facilitate the transport of millions of dollars (and pounds) worth of personal protective equipment and medicines and three mobile clinics to slow the spread of the outbreak. Along with numerous other we receive the Clinton Foundation award as part of the “Ebola Fighters.”
October 2015 – A food bank in South Carolina is able to serve 1.5 million meals after record flooding hits the area thanks to the donation of fork lifts and pallet jacks that ALAN arranges.
January 2016 – When more than 100,000 residents of Flint, Michigan are left without clean, safe, drinking water, ALAN works with Feed the Children to deliver enough bottled water to serve half of those 100,000 people for ten days – long enough to get essential water filters delivered and installed.
August through December 2017 – Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria wind up creating one of the most devastating hurricane seasons in recent history (and one of ALAN’s busiest falls). Together with MIT and Lift Non-Profit Logistics ALAN hosts a daily information exchange that plays a critical role in restoring cellular communications and getting food, water and other vital materials delivered to Puerto Rico and other hurricane impacted areas. ALAN ultimately winds up helping with numerous focused moves, warehousing initiatives and equipment donations to facilitate ongoing hurricane relief – and we’re not done yet.
September through October 2018 – ALAN officially activates for two hugely destructive hurricanes – Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael. Our achievements include connecting nine key non-profit humanitarian and relief organizations with everything from donated boxes (for sorting and distributing donated food) and pallet jacks to 53-foot trailers. We also help transport numerous power systems for first responders’ temporary housing and play an instrumental role in delivering items such as food, baby products, animal rescue supplies, exam gloves, brooms, flood buckets and rescue boats/trailers to impacted communities.
March 2019 – As huge flooding devastates many parts of the Midwest, ALAN and Hobby Lobby get a truckload of hydration, hygiene and cleaning supplies delivered to the Feed The Children and the Salvation Army in Nebraska to help with ongoing relief efforts.
To be continued . . . .[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
