DETROIT, Mich. — At Detroit Diesel’s Redford facility last week, employees gathered to help load two tractor-trailers with donated items for a second trip to the hurricane-devastated Plaquemines Parish, La.

From shovels to rakes and toasters to bed linens, Detroit Diesel and UAW Local 163 jointly held a two-week donation drive encouraging employees to bring in items needed to help continue with clean-up efforts in Plaquemines Parish. In all, employees filled two semi-trucks with the items collected for the Parish, which was once home to 28,000 residents.

“It’s great to see this kind of response to helping other communities from our employees, the residents of Redford Township, and now, E&R Industrial Sales and Ryder,” said Chris Snodgrass, director of operations at Detroit Diesel. “I want to personally thank them for stepping in to help us.”

In addition to collecting a variety of household goods, collections were also held for cash donations from employees, which raised nearly $4,000. One longtime Detroit Diesel employee then contacted a local wholesale industrial supply company E&R Industrial Sales which matched the employee donations with items “at cost” from their own warehouse.

“It was really important for us to get involved in this project once we were contacted by Detroit Diesel because I see the news reports there’s still a tremendous amount of work to do there to get the area back to where it once was,” said Jerry Pizzimenti, president of E&R Industrial Sales in Sterling Heights, Mich.

Knowing that the trip would require an additional tractor/trailer unit to transport the donated goods, the Detroit Diesel Material and Logistics Team asked Ryder if they could assist. Ryder donated a tractor and trailer, as well as an additional driver for the second truck.

“We are delighted to be a part of the relief efforts to help the residents of Plaquemines Parish get back on their feet,” said Tom Jones, Ryder’s senior vice-president of supply chain solutions, automotive, aerospace and transportation management.

The two trucks arrived in Plaquemines Parish on May 12. This is the latest contribution to the Parish from Detroit Diesel, the Local UAW 163, and Redford Township. Just days before the December holidays the trio combined to send a truck filled with food, clothing and household goods to the Parish.