Moore, Okla. — Retailers including RadioShack, Target and Walmart are supporting relief efforts in tornado-torn towns across Texas and Oklahoma.
RadioShack said it will begin accepting donations to the American Red Cross at all of its stores nationwide, and it will match a portion of the collected contributions. Customers will have the option of donating $1, $5 or $10 at checkout, which will help cover the cost of emergency shelter, food, recovery and other assistance to families impacted by the storms.
The CE chain will also donate mobile phones, chargers, power inverters, generators, batteries, flashlights and other emergency items to affected areas.
“We are saddened by the loss of life, homes and other vital property as a result of these violent storms,” said CEO Joe Magnacca. “We are partnering with the American Red Cross in providing these donations, which will go directly to helping the relief efforts and rebuilding in these affected communities.”
No associates were hurt and no RadioShack stores were damaged, although one or two locations lost power, a company spokesperson reported to TWICE.
Target said it will donate $250,000 in monetary support and merchandise to help the relief effort in Moore, Okla., which was hardest hit by the storms. The donation includes $150,000 in cash and in-kind donations to the American Red Cross, $30,000 in a cash donation to the Salvation Army, and $20,000 in product donations for other community needs such as water and other rescue and recovery supplies.
The discount chain will also donate $50,000 to Plaza Tower and Briarwood Elementary Schools to aid in recovery efforts, and is supporting local police and emergency responders, who established their command center in the parking lot of the chain’s store, here.
Other area stores have also donated bottled water, coolers, tents, utilities gloves, batteries, diapers, and food to first responders and the community as needed, the company said.
“Target is saddened by the devastation in Moore, Okla., and committed to being a resource for this community,” said Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president and CEO. “By volunteering our time and donating product and funds, we hope to help the residents of Moore recover from this disaster.”
Meanwhile, No. 1 retailer Walmart has pledged $1 million in cash and in-kind donations for storm-ravaged sections of Oklahoma. The company is delivering truckloads of water, food and other basic items, and employees from neighboring Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Texas are heading to the affected areas to staff stores and relieve local staff.
No customers or workers were injured in the chain’s Moore, Okla., stores, although some associates “have lost everything,” Walmart said. Its local big-box and Sam’s Club stores are open for business, and all five Sam’s Club locations in central Oklahoma are temporarily waiving membership requirements.
Yesterday Best Buy president/CEO Hubert Joly reported that some of the company’s area associates were still unaccounted for, and their status remains unclear.
