WILMINGTON, Mass. (May 2016) – UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF), an industry leader in the supply and servicing of uniforms, workwear, and facility products throughout the U.S. and Canada, announced today that it has donated nearly 34,500 garments with a retail value of over $850,000 to aid relief initiatives in Haiti. UniFirst’s donations have been coordinated through Global Outreach Haiti, a member of Global Outreach International’s Caribbean efforts.
“We appreciate the investment UniFirst made by donating these items to Global Outreach Haiti,” wrote David and Judy Heady, directors of the mission in Haiti. “This clothing will certainly be welcomed and put to good use by the needy Haitians we serve.” Garments sent by UniFirst included T-shirts, polo shirts, work shirts, healthcare scrubs, and more.
Global Outreach International is a nondenominational missions and development organization that trains, sends, and supports missionaries in a wide variety of contexts around the world. The mission in Haiti is multifaceted, with a commitment to feeding, clothing, and providing water to those in need. Global Outreach Haiti has four schools, a feeding program for the elderly, a burn clinic, and a child sponsorship program. Well drilling and maintenance for much-needed water is also a very important part of the group’s efforts.
“Through our inventory control efforts, we have previously donated thousands of items to local charitable organizations,” says David Roberts, general manager of UniFirst’s distribution center in Owensboro, Ky. “The Headys are originally from Owensboro and their efforts in Haiti are well known by many of our employee Team Partners. When we knew we would be able to make a donation of this magnitude, we immediately reached out to them to see if their organization could make good use of the garments. It’s such a good feeling to know we could contribute to people in need in some way.”
UniFirst recently released its inaugural corporate social responsibility report, in which the company noted a need to move forward with an increased awareness of the type of positive impact it would like to have in the communities in which it maintains a presence (visit csr.unifirst.com). Said Roberts, “It’s opportunities like these that go a long way toward maintaining good corporate citizenship.”
About UniFirst
Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, as well as the delivery of facility service programs. Together with its subsidiaries, the company also provides first aid and safety products, and manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products, and with over 225 service locations, 275,000 customer locations, and 12,000 employee Team Partners, the company outfits more than 1.6 million workers each business day. For more information, contact UniFirst at 888.365.1591 or visit UniFirst.com.
Contact:
Meghan Marcus
PR/Communications Specialist
UniFirst Corporation
68 Jonspin Rd.
Wilmington, MA 01887
978.527.3974
Meghan_Marcus@unifirst.com
