Pallets of Protection: SRP Donates Hand Sanitizer to Valley Nonprofits

SRP’s Supply Chain team made a special delivery last week, as a semi loaded with pallets of hand sanitizer rolled into the warehouses of Valley nonprofits.

The thousands of bottles and individual packets were a much-appreciated donation — one that took weeks of cross-coordination with Community Outreach to ensure those most in need received the precious commodity during an unprecedented situation.

“We are thankful to SRP for this very kind donation,” said Salvation Army Maj. David Yardley. “We have seen a great increase in Arizonans in need of food, water, shelter, clothing and other basic necessities during the pandemic, and this generous donation of hand sanitizer from SRP will help ensure we can continue to safely aid our neighbors.”

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, SRP’s Purchasing team was tasked with ensuring SRP had an ample supply of hand sanitizer for employees who had the crucial job of keeping customers in power during the global crisis.

“We searched high and low and found what we could wherever we could to protect our employees,” said Michelle Thieken, Manager, Regional Warehousing. “At that time, we also had to plan for future needs and purchase enough to have readily available when all employees returned.”As the pandemic lingered on and employees continued to work from home, SRP found itself with a surplus of hand sanitizer. The solution was clear: Help the community.

“I am always impressed with our innovative ways to help, and hand sanitizer and hygiene assistance are so important to health these days,” said Bill Alkema, Senior Director, Baseload Generation. Alkema is Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board for metro Phoenix.

SRP’s Community Outreach team identified seven nonprofits to receive a combined 10,430 8-ounce bottles and 40,900 one-time-use packets of hand sanitizer. SRP also sent 3,000 bottles to Coronado Generating Station to disperse throughout the St. Johns area. Early in the pandemic, when supplies were tight and the Navajo Nation was hit hardest by the virus, SRP distributed 20,000 packets of hand sanitizer to Native Americans in need.

“It was the right thing to do to share our surplus with the community,” said

Kate Kochenderfer, Senior Director, Supply Chain, Transportation and Flight Services. “This is one less expense they will have to worry about given our current situation, and they all expressed their gratitude.”

Here’s a breakdown of the Valley nonprofits that received the donation:

Lisa Glow, CEO of Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS), said SRP’s donation is helping to keep the at-risk populations her organization serves safe.

“We have been incredibly lucky to receive donations of hand sanitizer and other protective equipment from generous supporters like SRP,” Glow said. “Each night, our shelters provide beds to nearly 600 guests experiencing homelessness, and keeping them safe, socially distanced and protected throughout this pandemic is our priority. Our team members and generous supporters, such as SRP, are the reason we’ve been able to keep so many of those we serve safe and healthy.”