News

Saltchuk Giving Initiative – Hawai‘i Region Donates $60,000 to Local Food Banks

April 24, 2020

Four food banks across the state will each receive $15,000 amid the COVID-19 pandemic

HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I – In an effort to feed local families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Saltchuk Hawai‘i companies: Aloha Air Cargo, Hawai‘i Petroleum, Minit Stop, and Young Brothers, LLC, donated $60,000 today to support the critical service Hawai‘i’s food banks provide to our island communities. The Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, Maui Food Bank, and the Food Basket will each receive $15,000 to support their efforts to feed families in need.

Photo courtesy of the Hawaiʻi Foodbank.

“Food insecurity is one of many challenges local families across the state are facing right now as a result of the coronavirus pandemic,” said Jay Ana, president of Young Brothers, LLC. “In addition to supporting local food banks with in-kind transportation, we are grateful for the opportunity to join our sister companies in helping to support our food banks in this way.”

The Saltchuk Giving Initiative – Hawai‘i Region typically awards funds to nonprofits in the sectors of youth development and post-secondary education programming. However, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the initiative recognized the current need to support our local food banks that are providing vital services to keep our communities healthy and strong.

“We know there is a huge need for basic necessities such as food and water and we’re here to help the communities that have trusted us for so long,” said Kimo Haynes, president of Hawaiʻi Petroleum. “By focusing our donation to organizations who have established infrastructure, we can quickly help the people who need it the most.”

“Hawaii’s food banks are recognized both nationally and locally for its mission to feed those in need,” said Travis Colbert, Vice President & General Manager of Aloha Air Cargo. “It was a logical choice for a far-reaching effect during this very challenging time.”

Since its inception in 2014, the Saltchuk Giving Initiative – Hawai‘i Region has given over $1.4 million in grants to various non-profit organizations. In 2019, Saltchuk Hawaii companies provided more than $280,000 in grants and in-kind transportation to the community.

About the Saltchuk Giving Initiative – Hawai‘i Region

The Saltchuk Giving Initiative – Hawaii Region, accepts applications from non-profit organizations statewide whose primary purpose is to further post-secondary education and youth development.  For more information, visit www.saltchuk.com/about-us/giving.

About Aloha Air Cargo

Headquartered in Honolulu, Aloha Air Cargo, delivers fast, economical and reliable transport of goods between the Hawaiian Islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Island of Hawaii. It became an independent cargo operator after the closure of Aloha Airlines passenger services in May 2008. Aloha Tech Ops is a division of Aloha Air Cargo and provides maintenance and engineering services to airlines in the State of Hawaii.  For more information, visit, www.alohaaircargo.com.

About Hawai‘i Petroleum

Hawaii Petroleum is a wholesale and retail marketer of fuel products, convenience retailing and signature island fare operating on the islands of Maui and Hawaii.  With a modern fleet of bulk delivery vehicles, 7 commercial HFN cardlocks, 20 Ohana Fuels retail stations, and 16 Minit Stop stores, Hawaii Petroleum’s mission is to be the preferred provider in the markets we serve.  For more information, visit https://hawaiipetroleum.com/.

About Young Brothers, LLC

Young Brothers, with approximately 370 employees across the state, has served Hawai‘i since 1900. Young Brothers is a publicly regulated water carrier providing weekly port calls from Honolulu to the state’s neighbor island ports, including Hilo, Kawaihae, Kahului, Kaumalapau, Kaunakakai, and Nāwiliwili. For more information, visit www.youngbrothershawaii.com.

Saltchuk companies join the ALL IN Seattle campaign with $100,000 in grants

April 22, 2020

Saltchuk companies are proud to support Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, and the Keep Workers Healthy and Safe Fund as part of the ALL IN Seattle campaign.  The ALL IN Seattle campaign was created to promote direct donations to organizations providing critical support in Puget Sound and across the state in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are grateful to the strong network of non-profit organizations that are rising to the challenge to meet the needs of our community, said Nicole Engle, Saltchuk Shareholder and Chair of Saltchuk’s Washington Regional Giving Committee. “Employees across our companies are doing their part to keep the supply chain running smoothly and we are proud to support our communities in helping those most impacted by this crisis.”

NW Harvest – $30,000 grant

Northwest Harvest’s statewide hunger relief network is comprised of 375 food banks, meal programs and high-need schools as unique as the communities they serve.

Food Lifeline– $30,000 grant

Food Lifeline distributes food to more than 300 food banks, shelters, and meal programs throughout Western Washington, providing the equivalent of 134,000 meals every day for hungry children, adults, and seniors.

Keep Workers Healthy and Safe Fund– $40,000 grant

The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce fund has received $400,000 to date in pledges to help employers continue to provide uninterrupted medical insurance for their employees and keep employees safe by offsetting the costs of additional sanitization and safety supplies.

Last year, Saltchuk companies contributed more than $385,000 to non-profit organizations in the Pacific Northwest. Nationwide, the Saltchuk family of companies donated more than $2.2 million in in-kind transportation and nearly $2 million in grants within their communities.

Saltchuk companies in Washington include TOTE, Carlile, Foss Maritime, Delta Western Petroleum, NorthStar Energy and Northern Aviation Services.

Saltchuk companies join the AK CAN DO campaign

April 21, 2020

Saltchuk companies joined the AK CAN DO campaign this week with a $25,000 contribution. The AK CAN DO campaign, partnership for COVID-19 Response, a partnership between the Alaska Community Foundation and United Way of Anchorage, was established to provide support to non-profits providing critical support across the state in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Saltchuk companies’ donation will support non-profits on the frontline of the COVID-19 response and families who have suffered economic hardship as a result of the crisis.

Saltchuk companies in Alaska include TOTE, Carlile, Northern Air Cargo, Cook Inlet Tug & Barge, Delta Western Petroleum, Inlet Energy, Alaska Petroleum Distributing, and Northern Oilfield Services.

“We are grateful for the amazing network of non-profit organizations across Alaska who serve the most vulnerable in our state,” said Dave Karp, Managing Director for Saltchuk in Alaska. “Today, more than ever, those organizations are rising to the challenge and meeting our community where they are needed most. This crisis has touched us all, and we are committed to not only keeping the supply chain running smoothly but to support our community however we can.”

Last year, Saltchuk companies contributed more than $630,000 in grants to Alaskan non-profit organizations and supported community efforts with more than $2 million in in-kind transportation.

TOTE Maritime and Walmart partner to deliver more than 300 Toys to Puerto Rico

December 20, 2017

Toys arrive in San Juan on Dec 1 for the Boys & Girls Club of Puerto Rico

San Juan, Puerto Rico – TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico in partnership with Walmart delivered more than 300 toys for boys and girls of all ages to the Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico today.

The toys will be distributed to children and their families later this week in time for Christmas and the upcoming holidays.

This is part of TOTE Maritime’s ongoing commitment to the people of Puerto Rico to do all that it can to provide relief and recovery support following Hurricane Maria. TOTE Maritime has been working around the clock to respond to the impact of Hurricane Maria since September20th. TOTE Maritime employees on the island have worked every day since the storm hit.

The toy drive was led and supported by the employees of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico as well as TOTE’s employees around the country.

“The Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico has been critical to providing food, community programming and safe spaces for the children of Puerto Rico” noted Eduardo Pagan, TOTE Maritime’s VP and General Manager, Caribbean Services. “We hope that these toys will, in some small way, help families enjoy a bit of this holiday season despite the many challenges that families continue to face.”

The Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico will be distributing the toys to families and children on December 21.

Cart at Walmart filled with toys ready to be loaded to a TOTE Maritime ship

Foss Provides Meals and Homes for Hundreds of First Responders in Devastated Puerto Rico

December 20, 2017

SEATTLE, Wash.,  – From hearty meals to comfortable sleeping quarters for first responders, Foss Maritime has been supporting the relief and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.

Foss Maritime has been working in conjunction with U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide housing and fresh meals to hundreds of first responders.

In the months since the storms hit in September, Foss has used three accommodation vessels as “floating hotels” for hundreds of workers during the recovery work—including workers from the U.S. Department of Defense, FEMA and AmeriCorps—providing food, comfort and a place to sleep after long shifts. Two Foss vessels served as sleeping quarters, while a third was used for food preparation and support. The ocean-going tugs Lauren Foss and Corbin Foss stood alongside to provide additional support, along with Foss employees and subcontractors who provided catering, laundry and cleaning for relief workers’ rooms.

In addition to caring for responders, Foss also produced around 3,000 boxed meals a day. To help support economic recovery, the meals included local ingredients whenever possible. Bread was purchased from local bakeries and meat and other perishables were sourced from nearby businesses. A local milk delivery company was hired by FEMA to deliver the meals throughout the communities.

“We hear stories everyday about the work that is being done, and what still needs to be done—especially in the mountain regions,” said Mike Lauer, Director of Marine Transportation Project Services for Foss. “We’re happy and proud to be part of these efforts. Most of the responders are working non-stop, 12 hours or more a day, every single day. It’s exhausting work, so Foss has focused on making sure everyone is well-fed and comfortable, with a place to rest.”

Ninety-five percent of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid was destroyed in the storms, with the interior most hard-hit. Ongoing rehabilitation of the island, support for its people and the restoration of its economy will take time, but services are starting to return as workers make progress. Puerto Rico’s main energy ports—Yabucoa, Ponce, Guayanilla, and San Juan—have all reopened for business. Communications are coming back online as are cellular networks. Electrical equipment is being delivered to ports so the extensive damage can be repaired.

“This has been an impressive undertaking,” said Lauer from Ponce, Puerto Rico where he was on-hand to assist in operations. “There are an incredible amount of volunteers, through groups like FEMA Core, AmeriCorps and others that are in the communities every day, knocking on doors, educating people about resources, and providing every kind of aid—even cutting trees out of homes. The thing that has made the largest impression on me is just how much our federal government is doing for Puerto Rico. Honestly, being here and seeing this, it makes me thankful to be an American citizen.”

Although FEMA contracts are wrapping up, Foss will remain in the region to assist as needed through continuing recovery efforts.