Big Y supports Red Cross disaster efforts in Southeast Asia

Date: 12/24/2013

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Big Y World Class Markets collected donations from customers and employees from Nov. 16 to 30 for American Red Cross Disaster Relief, in response to Typhoon Haiyan and the massive destruction it caused in the Philippines and portions of Southeast Asia.

Community and employee donations along with additional support from Big Y resulted in a donation of $40,000, which will be donated to both Massachusetts and Connecticut American Red Cross Chapters in support of the ongoing relief efforts in the devastated communities and the many people affected by the disaster.

A formal check presentation to the Massachusetts American Red Cross took place Dec. 19 at the West Springfield Big Y World Class Market. Donald D’Amour, chairman and CEO of Big Y Foods, Charles D’Amour president and COO of Big Foods and Mike Messer, store director, West Springfield Big Y World Class Market, presented the contribution to Rick Lee, executive director of the Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter.

“The D’Amour family, Big Y, and its customers have been among the very first in our community to step up to help those in need when disaster strikes, whether the need is a local fire, a tornado outbreak in Oklahoma or a catastrophic storm in the Philippines,” Lee said. “We are grateful for their compassionate response and continued generous support.”

More than one month after Typhoon Haiyan, the Red Cross continues to deliver relief supplies and humanitarian assistance to hard hit communities in the Philippines. The American Red Cross has already committed $16 million to the response for Typhoon Haiyan and is deploying 11 more American Red Cross disaster specialists, in addition to the 13 who have already been deployed in support of global Red Cross efforts.

The Red Cross expects to make additional financial commitments to the typhoon response in the Philippines as donations come in. Money donated to the American Red Cross for Typhoon Haiyan will go to the relief and recovery efforts in the Philippines.

Thanks to the public’s generous support, the Red Cross has been able to provide food, shelter, relief supplies and comfort to thousands of people. Big Y, its customers and employees have a strong tradition of supporting those in need.

Past initiatives include campaigns to support both international and domestic disasters such as Red Cross International Response Fund – Haiti Relief and Development. After the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Big Y presented donations to the American Red Cross totaling $100,000. When devastation hit right in our own back yard in 2011, Big Y, its customers and employees donated $141,000 to Red Cross tornado relief and $75,000 for Hurricane Sandy Relief in 2012. Most recently, through similar efforts, Big Y Foods presented donations to the American Red Cross totaling $40,000 for relief efforts do to the Oklahoma Tornadoes that struck in May of 2013.