In a new fiscal year that began April 1, Carolina Handling turned its philanthropic focus to hunger relief, launching a yearlong effort called “Handling Hunger Together” to help eliminate hunger in our communities.
The fight against food insecurity began with REDFEST, our annual fiscal year kickoff that this year featured field day-themed events in Greenville, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Along with food, networking and a little business, REDFEST 2024 netted $5000 donations for five food banks across our territory: Atlanta Community Food Bank in Atlanta, Georgia; Food Bank of North Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama; Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina in Williamston, South Carolina; Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina in Charlotte, North Carolina; and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina in Greenville, North Carolina.
In May, we announced a 58 for 58 Motorized Pallet Jack giveaway to celebrate our 58 years in business in 2024. The equipment giveaway was designed to help lighten the load for organizations that receive, store and distribute thousands of pounds of food each year in their communities.
From larger metro-area food banks to small volunteer-only nonprofits, the 58 organizations throughout the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama that received a pallet jack from Carolina Handling combine to serve 11.2 million individuals each year and distribute a total of 290 million pounds of food.
Now, in October, we’re extending the 58 for 58 campaign with a 58 for 58 Season of Service that donates 58 hours of forklift technician service to hunger relief organizations that have material handling equipment needing repair.
“Many of the nonprofits we visited over the past few months as we’ve delivered motorized pallet jacks have forklifts or pallet trucks that no longer operate, but there are no resources to cover repairs,” said Carolina Handling Chief Operating Officer Joe Perkins. “With a team of more than 425 technicians who maintain all equipment brands and models, service is our specialty, so we’re expanding our 58th anniversary celebration by donating 58 hours of service to hunger relief organizations throughout our territory.”
Fighting food insecurity is challenging, but the challenge has taken on a new look since the pandemic, according to Donal Dickens, regional branch coordinator at Second Harvest Food Bank in Williamston, South Carolina.
“One constant throughout it all is the need for resources to put food in our communities,” Dickens said. “Any donation of time, food, money or equipment is extremely welcomed and goes a long way.”
To date, Carolina Handling’s donation of time has been in the form of volunteering, from sorting and packing items at local food banks to loading cars during mobile food distribution days. Now, we’re taking volunteerism to a new level by donating what we do best – maintenance and repair of forklifts and warehouse equipment to keep operations running.
With more than 40,000 forklifts currently under service contract, Carolina Handling’s team of technicians spend their days helping customers improve efficiency and productivity. That’s the level of expertise we want to provide to those fighting hunger in the communities where we work and live.
“The logistics of moving thousands of pounds of food can be overwhelming to organizations that don’t have reliable, safe equipment and processes,” Perkins said. “That’s where companies like Carolina Handling that specialize in material handling solutions can help.”
For information on Carolina Handling’s 58 for 58 Season of Service and to apply for service assistance, please visit carolinahandling.com/community/58-for58.
