After reading news stories, seeing pictures, and taking in the reality that is the utter devastation and now country-wide crisis in Haiti, it’s easy to feel helpless. If only Haiti were a short walk away, we could carry over food and water, lending a hand along the way to those in need.
Fortunately, help is on the way from wonderful organizations like the American Red Cross and Unicef, and the president has pledged $100m to the relief effort being carried out at this moment. However, in order for these relief efforts to provide the proper amount medical supplies and assistance, they need even more funding in the form of donations.
Beng Liu, our head of quality control, thought of a way that simplehuman could help fund this relief effort and also provide a helpful service to all the people that work here. Beng’s plan was to offer a tire pressure check/adjustment to all simplehuman employees, with a suggested donation of $5 (some gave more) to go towards the relief effort in Haiti. Beyond that, our CEO agreed to match each $5 with a $50 donation.
On Friday, employees parked their car in the designated area that Beng, Dave, and Kenneth had prepared. Studies show that tire pressure check is the most neglected car safety maintenance operation. Under-inflated tires will reduce gas mileage and increase overheating while over-inflated tires do not grip the road well.
Fit with pressure gauges, charts, and an electric air compressor, the team had everyone’s tires filled to the correct PSI. This not only made driving our cars more safe and efficient, but it allowed everyone to lend a hand, in our own way, to the people of Haiti.
In the end, there was 100% participation and simplehuman raised thousands of dollars to go directly toward the earthquake relief effort in Haiti.
For more information on how you can donate to the relief effort, please visit the American Red Cross or Unicef.
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January 19th, 2010 @ 3:07 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by simplehuman, Brenda Cuby. Brenda Cuby said: RT @simplehumans: A few simplehuman employees step up to do their part in raising money for the relief effort in Haiti. http://bit.ly/7l9XXh [...]
January 24th, 2010 @ 5:25 am
This is a great idea – the foundation where I work has offered car washing for employees in our parking garage to raise money for charity, but this would be something new. Where does one get the charts to determine correct pressure?
February 24th, 2010 @ 2:48 am
what about the rest of us who don't live in US or UK? your products cost me more than twice as much since i have to specially import them to India. Please stop making gorgeous bins, I have squandered enough!