The PODS commitment to the community is helping to fill the gaps resulting from social program funding cut backs made by government agencies, says the company.
According to a December, 2011 Study by the Nonprofit Search Collaborative, a joint project by the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy and five other organizations, charitable organizations faced an 18.8 percent increase in bequests in 2010 and, of those relying on government funding, 54 percent reported a decline in the amount received.
The analysis suggests a large number of U.S. nonprofit organizations are struggling to secure vital funding and, as a result, are looking to the help of the business community to meet a growing demand.
Partnering with the Marine Toys for Tots, PODS stepped up in 2011 to help brighten the holidays for families across the United States. The company provided 330 containers and associated delivery services to assist with the nonprofit’s yearly holiday toy collection, tripling its container donations from 2010. Over 100 franchise and corporate owned locations participated across the country.
The philanthropic efforts of PODS have been widely applauded by Toys for Tots and other local charities.
“PODS’ efforts in support of the Toys for Tots programs have been remarkable,” says retired Marine Major Bill Grein, vice president of the Toys for Tots Foundation. “Their ability to have hundreds of containers serve as collection points and then be able to move those containers, loaded with thousands of toys, to our distribution locations is a huge benefit to us. It allows us to devote more funds toward purchasing more gifts and helping more families.”
Toys for Tots is just one example of PODS’ charitable work across the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. A few examples of PODS responding to community charitable causes are:
• Donating a PODS® container to the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County to help the nonprofit agency store donations during its Annual KCOY Spring Food Drive.
• Providing storage for donated laptops and household items to the Community Partnership for Children in Daytona Beach, Fla., to support foster children who are “aging out” of the foster care system at age 18.
• Offering PODS containers to store items in the Albany, N.Y., area in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene in August, 2011.
• By donating containers and services, PODS saved nonprofits more than $78,000 in logistics costs in 2011 in the tri-counties area of Central California which currently supports the Boys & Girls Club, FOOD Share of Ventura County, Casa Pacifica, Toys for Tots and the California Strawberry Festival.•
For more information, visit PODS.com.
