While Hurricane Katrina hit months ago, the need for help in the Gulf Coast area is still a priority. International Truck and Engine's Used Truck Organization has donated two commercial trucks to the Shreveport chapter of the American Red Cross.
The trucks will be the first trucks owned by the local chapter, which has been supporting 6,000 to 10,000 victims of Hurricane Katrina. Previously, the chapter relied on rental trucks to deliver supplies from its warehouse to various shelters around the area that includes 10 parishes. "If you don't have the right equipment, it's a problem in a disaster," said Reed Brau, executive director of the Shreveport chapter of the American Red Cross. "International Truck and Engine was the only truck company that stepped forward with this very generous donation. It's a donation that will help us for years to come." In addition to transporting supplies to shelters, the trucks will be used in the future to help administer health fairs and special events for the residents of the Shreveport area. They were donated from the inventory at the recently opened International Used Truck Center Shreveport. The grand opening of the center was not scheduled until late Fall of 2005, but because of the dire need for trucks to help in the reconstruction of the Gulf Coast area, the company officially opened the center earlier to accommodate businesses. "International is proud to help the Shreveport Red Cross with its efforts to host the evacuees from Hurricane Katrina," said Dennis Huffmon, Vice President, International Used Truck Organization. "These two used trucks will help deliver much-needed supplies to all parts of the Shreveport area now and in the future."