Flooding is continuing to blight areas of the UK, with many households still under water due to the extraordinary amount of rain we have had recently.
Stories of efforts and activitity to help those in need keep cropping up in the press, and today I thought I’d highlight one I spotted via Asda’s blog about their “amazing colleagues.”
I’ve written about Asda (a division of Walmart) a number of times before, particularly about their internal/external website, The Green Room. I’ll include the link at the foot of this article.
They run the Asda Foundation @AsdaFoundation, which is a charitable trust. It was set up in 1988 to support local good causes across the UK, chosen by its employees and is funded by the profits from the mid-week national lottery.
It has created a Flood Relief Fund, with £400,000 set aside to help those in need, and has spent £80,000 to date on getting emergency supplies, waders and sandbags distributed.
Store colleagues (what Asda calls its employees) have been out into their local communities to deliver food parcels, fill sandbags, support the operation to move cattle to safety, and provide clothing for those who’ve lost everything.
Julie Ward, Asda Foundation Manager, told me: “Our community colleagues up and down the country are pulling out all the stops at the moment to help people in their local community who have been affected by the floods.
“Not surprisingly it is showcasing Asda at its best. Passionate colleagues, making a difference, at a time of need.”
Andrew Holmes, Regional Operations Manager for North West London, said: “Our Community colleagues went out late into the night in water 4-5 foot deep, handing out equipment to the most needy, some people had been cut off for days forced to move to upstairs rooms! Cars were buried under water, some had been jacked up, hoping to escape the damages of water.”
There’s much written about being brand advocates, telling authentic stories and showcasing real people, doing real jobs, in order to underpin a brand’s reputation. I certainly think this is a demonstration of all those aspects and congratulate Asda on doing a sterling job to help out.
Talking of real stories, Asda colleague Dawn Hackney, Security Manager at Asda Taunton, wrote on the Asda blog about spending the day in Moorland, one of the worst-hit villages in Somerset, helping to fill sandbags and deliver essential supplies to stranded residents. Dawn was working alongside volunteers from Flag (Flooding on the Levels Action Group):
“It was amazing to work along side such dedicated volunteers. We took the food in to pensioners John and Betty who have about 2ft of water being held back by sandbags, then I raced back to store to get vital supplies for Flag’s temporary office – a barn mid-renovation, just a shell, no windows, powered by a generator for lights and that all-important kettle! I got them wipe boards, radios, pens, toilet rolls etc so they can organise their planned attack.
“I’m truly humbled to work alongside such an amazing team like Flag, as they are the only people actually on the front line helping people. I’m also so proud to work for Asda who this week have really shown how they do care for the community, and I’m proud to be a part of it!”
@AsdaFoundation thankyou from every heart in Somerset for these amazing waders! #somersetfloods ❤️ #asda pic.twitter.com/dlxQdwdRV6 — Dawn Hackney (@InsignificantMe) February 18, 2014
RT @asda: We’re delivering sandbags and waders to flood-hit communities in Berkshire: http://t.co/i5KtQJKsdD pic.twitter.com/UsGg0OXQK3 — UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) February 14, 2014
Ohhhhhh I just made it on #countryfile for the @AsdaFoundation funded supplies to #Muchelney #somersetfloods #asda pic.twitter.com/lEYTGGQaDL — Dawn Hackney (@InsignificantMe) February 16, 2014
1 packed to the brim car of vital supplies for residents of #moorland #homeshopping with a difference #somersetfloods pic.twitter.com/aCQHnQG8CM
Dawn is just one of our amazing colleagues supporting flood-hit communities. Read more: http://t.co/xsmvzsI8yW pic.twitter.com/itaHJweYXf — Asda (@asda) February 12, 2014
— Dawn Hackney (@InsignificantMe) February 15, 2014
The devastation is getting worse the waters much higher than Tuesday #somersetfloods #moorland #asda #taunton pic.twitter.com/FBtik7z9q2
— Dawn Hackney (@InsignificantMe) February 15, 2014
Thanks to Asda who provided 200 bacon rolls for the military staff in Worcester @asda. Nice touch with bread and milk for stranded residents — Supt Mark Travis (@SuptSouthWorcs) February 15, 2014
You can also see the tweets I’ve featured via @AsdaFoundation – and I spotted that even the Prime Minster, David Cameron, has recognised the good work they are doing, by retweeting their stories.
Want to read more about Asda? See my previous article about The Green Room.
Post author: Rachel Miller.