Press Release
04.02.2010

JYSK Provides Ten Tonnes of Emergency Aid to Haiti's Children

The largest donation of goods in JYSK's history is now on its way to the SOS Children's Villages in Haiti. JYSK sent 7,000 blankets and 5,000 sleeping bags to the earthquake-stricken country. "With these JYSK products we will be able to help thousands of victims," commented the director of the SOS Children's Villages.

Ten tonnes of emergency aid - or more than 23 kilometres of blankets and sleeping bags worth more than 1.1 million Danish kroner - is now on its way from JYSK's gigantic warehouses in Denmark to the SOS Children's Villages in Haiti.

Three lorries filled with blankets and sleeping bags set off this week for Frankfurt, Germany, from where the SOS Children's Villages ship emergency aid by plane to Haiti.

"We just haven't been able to get a hold of some of the most basic things for the victims, and our colleagues in Haiti asked for help. JYSK was quick to respond and willing to donate blankets and sleeping bags, which are desperately needed," explains Hanne Elisabeth Rasmussen, Director of SOS Children's Villages Denmark.

1.1 million Danish kroner in aid

JYSK's emergency aid shipments are valued at more than 1 million Danish kroner and represent the largest donation of goods in the company's history, explains Jonas Schrøder, JYSK's CSR Manager.
The donation to the SOS Children's Villages was made in addition to the more than 1 million Danish kroner that JYSK donated to Africa and Haiti following a nationwide annual collection drive last Saturday.

"The disaster in Haiti is one of the most serious in recent memory. The country was already at the abyss, and the earthquake pushed it all the way over the edge. The situation is extraordinary - and when the need for the exact goods we have on stock is so great, we simply have to react," Schrøder explains.

SOS Children's Villages has two outposts in Haiti: one children's village in the devastated capital, and one in the northern region of the island. Luckily, none of the children's villages were destroyed by the earthquake - though people are flocking to them as they are known as safe areas for unaccompanied children.

"The 7,000 blankets and 5,000 sleeping bags will be distributed to the children and families that receive aid from SOS Children's Villages. These are children living in our villages who have lost their families, as well as thousands of families that have lost everything. They have nowhere to put their children when it's time to sleep. But now they do," says Hanne Elisabeth Rasmussen.

Facts

• Approximately ten tonnes of goods were shipped from JYSK (three full lorries)
• 7,000 blankets and 5,000 sleeping bags
• The goods have a volume of approximately 102 cubic metres
• The shipments will depart from JYSK's warehouses in Denmark on Thursday
• Scheduled to arrive at Frankfurt Airport on Friday
• The shipments will then be flown to the Dominican Republic
• Finally, they will be transported to Haiti by lorry

JYSK today sent 12,000 blankets and sleeping bags to the SOS Children's Villages in Haiti from the JYSK-warehouse in Denmark. Communications Manager at SOS Children's Villages Line Grove Hermansen and JYSKs head of social responsibility Jonas Schrøder helped to pack the first boxes. Photo: Enkorn.