Convoy of Hope celebrated the expansion of its disaster relief efforts within the Southeast with a dedication of its newest regional distribution center. More than 300 people attended the ceremony, which featured Convoy of Hope President Hal Donaldson, Chick-fil-A CMO Jon Bridges, The Home Depot Foundation CFO and COO John Dennison and North Point Ministries’ Sandra Stanley. The global, faith-based organization’s 125,000-square-foot regional distribution center near Atlanta is already fully stocked and operational. The closer proximity to the region, following natural disasters, is estimated to cut the response time to some locations in half.
“Establishing regional distribution centers across the country is a forward-thinking way Convoy of Hope is expanding its capacity to serve and ensures we can very quickly respond when disasters strike,” said Convoy of Hope President Hal Donaldson. “By positioning supplies in regions that are increasingly vulnerable, we can reach families and individuals more quickly and effectively in their greatest time of need. We are grateful for the opportunity to deepen our partnerships with local organizations across the Southeast as we work together to bring timely help and hope.”
The new Regional Distribution Center East has a fleet of disaster response vehicles ready to deploy emergency supplies, including shelf-stable food, water, paper goods and hygiene items. This will allow Convoy of Hope to more quickly deliver critical supplies to those impacted by disasters in the Southeast. These supplies and equipment are vital to meeting the needs of survivors during hurricane season and in the immediate aftermath of strong storms. Because the Southeast region is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding, it is a critical location for launching Convoy’s relief efforts.
“For more than a decade, we’ve partnered with Convoy of Hope in communities across the country, investing more than $6 million in the organization’s disaster response efforts,” said John Dennison, COO and CFO of The Home Depot Foundation. “As Convoy of Hope has grown, so has our partnership, so that we’re not only responding to disasters, but helping communities prepare for them as well."
Convoy of Hope has responded to more than 850 disasters worldwide since 1998. Convoy’s Disaster Services team is consistently among the first to respond and is known for its scalable response and distribution model, which utilizes well-positioned warehouses, a specialized disaster response fleet and a highly trained team of staff and volunteers to respond to disasters quickly and effectively. In the past year, Convoy of Hope has responded to the deadly flooding in Texas, the California wildfires and the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, among other disasters.
During times of natural and humanitarian disaster, Convoy of Hope responds with tangible aid and compassion. Not only does it distribute essential emergency supplies, but it often also provides long-term assistance to help people rebuild and recover.
About Convoy of Hope
Convoy of Hope is a global, faith-based organization that serves vulnerable communities. By partnering with local churches, businesses, civic organizations and government agencies, Convoy has strategically offered help and hope in more than 130 countries around the world. Since its founding in 1994, Convoy of Hope has served 350 million people and counting with its mission to feed the world through children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches and disaster response. Visit convoyofhope.org to learn more.
About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation, a nonprofit supported by The Home Depot (NYSE:HD), works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, support communities impacted by natural disasters and train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $550 million in veteran causes and improved more than 65,000 veteran homes and facilities. The Foundation has pledged to invest $750 million in veteran causes by 2030 and $50 million in training the next generation of skilled tradespeople through the Path to Pro program by 2028. To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation visit HomeDepotFoundation.org