|
|
|
See release for photo caption
|
DATE: January 26, 2009
CONTACT: Kimberly Maroe, Public Information Manager, Broward County Commission
PHONE: 954-357-8053
EMAIL: kmaroe@broward.org
Holland America Line and Broward County's Port Everglades are debuting Ship to Shelter, an innovative community charitable program designed to donate valuable and reusable goods from the line's cruise ships to local people in need.
The Ship to Shelter program incorporates strategic partnerships between Port Everglades, Cooperative Feeding Program and Holland America Line to provide partially used stateroom amenities that are no longer needed on cruise ships for re-use by the needy, while providing an environmentally friendly solid waste disposal solution.
Partnering with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Cooperative Feeding Program, Port Everglades will work with the Seattle-based cruise line to donate items from its ships that regularly call at Port Everglades. The goods will be distributed to individuals and families in need.
In addition to the weekly donations of individual-sized toiletries, Holland America Line periodically will provide items such as towels, linens, dishes, cookware, silverware, televisions and mattresses.
The program kicked off in South Florida with ms Noordam, ms Maasdam, ms Westerdam and ms Eurodam providing hundreds of items that would otherwise have been discarded.
"For those in need of a bar of soap, shampoo, or a pillow these are a luxury. Broward County is grateful to merge the generosity of Holland America with the needs of the less fortunate in our community through the Cooperative Feeding Program," said Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter.
"Giving back is part of the corporate culture at Holland America Line and it is part of our corporate social responsibility," said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer. "Over the years Holland America has worked with nonprofits around the world to donate reusable goods in a socially conscious, environmentally friendly method. These items are periodically replaced on our ships and can be put to good use for a worthy cause."
Holland America Line will continue to donate other items from various Port Everglades-based ships from January through April and October through December each year.
Port Everglades has been instrumental in implementing the program. "We all know that the cruise industry provides great economic benefit to our region, and now they also are providing an important charitable benefit," said Port Everglades Director Phil C. Allen. "The Ship to Shelter program exemplifies the port's commitment to social responsibility - finding a way for us and our partners to give back to the community and ensure that everyone benefits from the business of the port."
The Cooperative Feeding Program is a nonprofit, award-winning organization that provides hot daily meals, a family food box, showers, mailroom, phone lines, food stamps, clothing, counseling, back to school supplies and more to locals in need.
"There is an incredible shortage of basic toiletry items in the needy community," said Marti Forman, chief executive officer, Cooperative Feeding Broward. "We often take the availability of these items for granted, and with the generosity of the Ship to Shelter program, we will be able to help fulfill this need for so many people."
Photo caption:
Pictured from left are: Marti Forman, CEO of Cooperative Feeding Broward; Port Everglades Director Phillip C. Allen; Broward County Commissioner Sue Gunzburger; Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter; Stein Kruse, President and CEO of Holland America Line; and, Broward County Commissioner Ilene Lieberman.
|