It's nice to be able to share good stories about companies and people that are doing the right thing.
Here's the latest: Revolution Bag LLC, a Little Rock, Ark., company that makes trash can liners from post-consumer plastics, provided volunteer workers and materials to assist with disaster relief after the recent flooding around Baton Rouge, La.
The company donated and delivered a full tractor-trailer load of more than 130,000 can liners. On top of that, a team of employees from Revolution Bag and sister company Delta Plastics of the South LLC and their family members — 12 people in all — traveled to Baker, La., on Aug. 26-28 to help with the cleanup.
They removed debris, including ruined and moldy furniture, appliances and drywall, from homes where waters had reached as high as four feet — inside the houses.
“It was just total devastation,” said David Rives, president of Revolution Bag. “It will take years to clean it up. I think that is what I will remember most, just thinking to myself, ‘How will these people ever recover? How will they know what to do next? Who can help them if they aren't insured?' I can't really explain it. You just had to do what you could while you were there and then tell others so they might help.”
The company worked with Schneider Paper Products Inc., a distributor of paper and plastic food service disposables, sanitary maintenance products and equipment. Schneider Paper moved to Baton Rouge from New Orleans in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina. Some of the homes that the Revolution Bag team helped clean up are owned by employees of Schneider Paper.
“Our roots are from the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, and our rebirth is proudly in Baton Rouge after Katrina,” said Michael Schneider, the company's vice president of sales and marketing.
Mark Schneider, president and general manager of Schneider Paper, said Revolution Bag was proactive in contacting Schneider Paper and offering to help.
“In a world with many problems and issues, we are all extremely thankful and appreciative of helpful people and companies like Revolution Bag, Delta Plastics and their family of employees for their wonderful donation and personal help and deeds,” he said.
IAPD also helps
The International Association of Plastics Distribution and the Atlanta Plastics Charity Golf Tournament (APCGT) also have teamed up to help members of the plastics community affected by flooding in Louisiana.
APCGT and IAPD established the Louisiana Flood Relief Fund to assist those in need of financial assistance.
Donations will be collected until Sept. 30, and can be made by visiting atlantaplasticscharity.org.
IAPD member company employees are encouraged to complete the Louisiana Flood Relief Fund Application for themselves or anyone they may know who would benefit from the funds. The Louisiana Flood Relief Fund Application deadline also is Sept. 30.
Hat's off to Revolution Bag, Delta Plastics and IAPD for their efforts.
Loepp is editor of Plastics News and author of “The Plastics Blog.” Follow him on Twitter @donloepp.
