FirstLine Gloves, Inc. Donates Gloves for Haiti Relief Effort

 After news broke about the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, FirstLine Gloves, Inc. worked with Direct Relief to donate 150 cases of medical gloves. The gloves were sent directly to medical aid workers treating those affected by the natural disaster.

 

The FirstLine Gloves Team found out just how extraordinary donating can be, when they drove cases of gloves to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. The City of New Orleans was already a FirstLine customer; however, they lost all of their medical supplies due to the massive flooding that took place after the storm. Once the FirstLine Team knew the City was without gloves and unable to receive shipments through freight carriers, they packed up a truck and hit the road. 

The FirstLine Team went directly to the Emergency Operations Center in Baton Rouge and from there was taken by military convoy into the devastated City of New Orleans. They met with Dr. Jullette Saussy, the Medical Director of New Orleans, and began working with her to distribute medical gloves around the City.      
 

Colette Perches and Dustin Knackstedt prepare to take gloves to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina

“I’ll never forget seeing paramedics out in flip-flops because they had literally lost all of their uniforms during the hurricane,” said FirstLine President, Colette Perches, “I was so glad we had decided to go to New Orleans and help because it was so amazing to see what our customers were doing and how they were helping people, with what little they had.  It was definitely a defining moment in my career, where I felt like selling gloves was no longer just a business, but also my home.”

 

Since FirstLine’s remarkable experience after Hurricane Katrina, the Team has continually searched for ways to help other cities in the United States during natural disasters, even starting a Natural Disaster Preparedness Program.  However, once FirstLine heard about the earthquake in Haiti, the Team knew they needed to expand their assistance to places outside the U.S., thus partnering with Direct Relief.

 

“I had heard about Direct Relief on TV and news spots and when I asked a doctor who went to Haiti, he suggested working with them because they were a great organization to donate to,” Perches said.
  

Direct Relief, located in Santa Barbara, Calif. was founded in 1948 and works nationally and internationally with people who face hardships. Direct Relief collects donations of medical aid and then distributes the items to those in need.  They focus not only on those who are affected by natural disasters and emergencies, but also those who face poverty and distress. 
                                                                                                                                                        

Meng Her loads the donated gloves onto the Estes truck  Estes donated the shipping to Direct Relief in support of the Haiti relief effort

 Direct Relief has contacts all over the world and is constantly in communication and prepared to send medical supplies whenever the need should arise.  They also supply products to low-income clinics and health centers across the U.S.

 

“We have seen lots of requests for gloves in Haiti,” Senior Program Director, Dan Smith said. Smith was very appreciative that FirstLine could donate medical gloves to help meet the needs of the medical staff working in Haiti.

Members of the FirstLine Team met with Kristin Brown, Direct Relief’s Corporate Liaison, and went on a tour of their facilities. The company has three warehouses in Santa Barbara, and the FirstLine Team was able to see firsthand what types of products Direct Relief receives, as well as how they are categorized and shipped all around the world.

 

Brown, who has been with Direct Relief for about three years said, “I’m glad you could stop by for a tour, hear more about how Direct Relief works and understand our entire process of how your donation of gloves will be packed, palletized, shipped, and finally put to good use with our partners in Haiti.”

Dustin Knackstedt, Direct Relief Corporate Liason Kristin Brown, Colette Perches and Jamie Mathews at the Direct Relief headquarters in Santa Barbara, CA

Since the events of Katrina and her travels throughout other countries, Perches understands the importance of donating and helping those in need. “I feel it is time to give back and help others who are less fortunate.  It can truly turn a person’s life around when they receive even the most basic of items that they need, and I have seen this firsthand,” Perches said.

 

FirstLine hopes to continue to work with Direct Relief and encourages others to donate to their cause.  The FirstLine Team feels that it is vital to provide Direct Relief with the supplies needed when an emergency hits in the United States or internationally.