Outdoor Research has committed more than $64,000 in aid to support victims of Hurricane Sandy thanks to the efforts of a single employee.


When the storm hit landfall on Oct. 29, the company's customer service director, Cherie Appleby-Lannan, happened to be on the East Coast visiting family. Perhaps it was this unfortunate coincidence, or the fact that she grew up there, that spurred her into action when she returned home to Seattle the next week. When she got back to work, she took action and began researching ways that Outdoor Research could lend support to those areas most stricken.
 
After many calls to different agencies assisting with relief efforts, Appleby-Lannan reached the fire chief at the Point Breeze Fire Department, located in one of the areas particularly hard hit by the storm. The area had more than 90 homes destroyed by fire. Working through the fire department, which has become a hub in the area’s relief efforts, Outdoor Research shipped more than $45,000 worth of warm, new outdoor clothing that is being distributed to victims in the area.


Then, working with contacts at the Outdoor Industry Association, Appleby-Lannan also helped Outdoor Research donate just over $15,000 in product to AmeriCares, a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization working on the Sandy relief effort. Those products are being distributed to victims in the Staten Island area, another hard-hit area.


Appleby-Lannan also came up with an idea to help Outdoor Research facilitate a cash donation to the American Red Cross’ Hurricane Sandy Relief Program. As part of its professional purchase program, Outdoor Research requires direct customers to make a $2 donation to one of several outdoor advocacy organizations for each order placed. For a period of time in recent weeks, Outdoor Research directed those donations to the Red Cross, raising $4,648 in the process. The company mailed a check this week.


“People across the country, including many of us here at Outdoor Research, have friends, colleagues and business associates in areas hit hard by Hurricane Sandy,” said Alex Kutches, President of Outdoor Research. “We’re proud to have an employee like Cherie step up and get the ball rolling, and proud that we could play a small part in helping with relief efforts as this part of the country starts the hard work of getting back on its feet.”