Medline Industries Inc. recently received one of the highest honors awarded by the American Red Cross for its efforts as a first responder to help bring in medical supplies and rescue victims of hurricane Katrina this time last year.
“We are thankful for and applaud the significant contributions Medline Industries Inc. has made to help those affected by recent hurricanes. It is through these types of generous gifts that the American Red Cross is able to continue the work we do. As we have seen with Medline Industries and others, employee initiatives, combined with support from top management, has made a remarkable impact on disaster relief efforts,” said Judith Ostronic, national chair, biomedical development.
In addition to donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross and an additional $100,000 to help Medline employees hit by the hurricane, Medline immediately chartered a first response helicopter rescue team that has been lauded for rescuing and coordinating the rescue of more than 1,700 men, women and children from hospital and other rooftops in New Orleans.
“We are so honored to be recognized by the Red Cross. We feel very fortunate that we were able to respond immediately with food, water (and) medical supplies, and hire some of the best rescue professionals around,” said Medline CEO Charlie Mills. “It was a dangerous mission for them. There was no air traffic control, fog, downed power lines and thousands of people that needed to be rescued who were at times desperately rushing the chopper. These guys are heroes.”
Mills also noted the extraordinary efforts of Medline’s Covington, La., facility employees who came to work within 24 hours of the hurricane even though many had lost their own homes. “We were amazed by their strength of spirit and their willingness to put their own needs aside and help our customers and others who had suffered. They literally lived in the warehouse with their families and worked around the clock.”
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