On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike tore through the Texas Gulf Coast region resulting in the third most destructive hurricane in American history. Our Company saw the need for assistance throughout our communities and our employees wanted to provide the needed support in these difficult times.
In mid-October 2008, Puffer-Sweiven held a food drive for those effected by Hurricane Ike and thanks to the generosity of our employees collected and donated 52 boxes of non-perishable food items. In addition to the food items, cash donations were collected including the Company match of almost $9,000. Donations were given to several organizations that have food pantries serving the communities where our employees live and work.
One of the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Ike was Shoreacres in the La Porte area (south of the Houston Ship Channel along Galveston Bay). Nearly all of the 500 houses in this small town of 1500 sustained water damage from Ike's storm surge. On Nov. 4th, 2008, the La Porte Branch of Puffer-Sweiven restocked the community food pantry and sponsored a dinner for more than 100 displaced residents of Shoreacres hosted by The La Porte Neighborhood Center. The event included a drawing for door prizes of useful household items such as pillows, blankets and other miscellaneous gifts. Diane Schiff, Maritssa Diaz and Kelly Jamison of the La Porte Branch office helped with the set-up preparations for the evening.
