In the wake of the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan on Friday, Nov. 8, beverage companies are working fast to send aid to affected communities in the Philippines.
The typhoon flattened towns, destroying at least 80,000 homes and leaving more than 582,000 people homeless and more than 2,275 dead, according to a CNN report.
To aid survivors, Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo donated $1 million to support disaster relief and recovery efforts. The company is partnering with four relief agency partners to deliver this aid: American Red Cross International Response Fund, Give2Asia, Habitat for Humanity International and Save the Children. Through these agencies, PepsiCo will provide funding to distribute food, household and hygiene products, and shelter and relief kits to help Filipinos survive and rebuild.
"Over the last few days, we have seen heartbreaking scenes from the Philippines caused by this historic typhoon,” said Indra Nooyi, chairman and chief executive officer of PepsiCo, in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the millions of people affected by this devastating storm. As a committed member of the Filipino community, PepsiCo is bringing its resources and its partners together to help in this time of incredible need. We will be there for the Filipino people as they respond to and recover from this natural disaster."
The PepsiCo Foundation also plans to collaborate with agency partners in the coming months to assess the deployment of the relief committed and potential needs in the future.
In addition to PepsiCo Foundation grants, PepsiCo's local partners, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. and exclusive national foods distributor Benby Enterprises, are mobilizing to identify needs, including product and logistics support, amid the significant infrastructure damage.
The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, donated more than $2.5 million in cash and in-kind contributions to support disaster relief and recovery efforts.
"We would like to express our deepest sympathies to those affected by this tragic disaster in the Philippines," said Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive officer of The Coca-Cola Co., in a statement. "Our dedicated associates are on the ground offering assistance, and we are committed to helping the communities rebuild."
Coca-Cola Philippines and its bottling partner, Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, through The Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, began donating water for relief efforts to the Philippine Red Cross, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). By Nov. 16, the Coca-Cola system will have donated 129,000 cases of water to the affected communities, representing an in-kind contribution valued at $590,000.
Coca-Cola Philippines also is providing $1 million for additional relief initiatives and community rehabilitation and to assist small, independent customers with reconstruction.
In addition, The Coca-Cola Foundation in Atlanta contributed $1 million to the American National Red Cross for humanitarian aid to the Philippines.
The E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto, Calif., also provided aid to survivors by making a $100,000 donation to the Philippine Typhoon Relief Fund.
"On behalf of our employees and their families, we are making this donation to help the rescue effort and to provide aid and comfort to the victims of this terrible disaster," said Joseph Gallo, chief executive officer and president of the E. & J. Gallo Winery, in a statement. "This disaster strikes close to home, as we have valued relationships with distributors, retailers and consumers who live in the Philippines and have suffered losses."
The donation will be used to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims living in the Philippines.
Kefir company Lifeway Foods Inc., Morton Grove, Ill., is sponsoring the Charity Miles app in support of the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Charity Miles is an iPhone and Android app that enables people to earn corporate sponsorships for charity while walking, running or biking.
Lifeway is sponsoring Charity Miles users’ donations to various charities from Nov. 12 through Dec. 17. Lifeway hopes the sponsorship will inspire healthy living as part of the charity participation.
In addition, Lifeway is providing a $20,000 matching incentive to the World Food Programme, the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, through Charity Miles. Whenever someone uses Charity Miles to support any charity during the campaign, Lifeway will donate an additional 25 cents per mile through Charity Miles in support of the World Food Programme's Haiyan relief efforts.
