David Sarlitto, Executive Director, OSJL Charitable Foundation and others with supplies for donation.
Hero image for Ocean State Job Lot Hurricane Relief efforts.

Natural Disaster Relief

Hurricanes Helene and Milton Relief

Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and other Southeastern states have been devastated by the effects of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Ocean State Job Lot collected donations to help them get through these challenging times. Through the support of you, our loyal customers, we sent 14 tractor trailers worth of needed supplies valued at over $1.5 million. These tractor trailers were filled with loads of various items that the folks affected desperately needed! We shipped a tractor trailer’s worth of cleaning supplies, a trailer containing 80,000 packages of organic baby food, a tractor trailer full of gas fire pits, five tractor trailers stuffed full of shoes and clothing for folks of all ages as well as six tractor trailers filled with much needed furniture. With the help of our partners on the ground there, the United Cajun Navy, most of this product is already being placed in the hands of those who truly need it. From all of us at Ocean State Job Lot, thank you for your generosity and support.

Hurricane Idalia Relief

When Hurricane Idalia hit the Gulf Coast of Florida and Georgia during late August and early September 2023, Ocean State Job Lot stepped in to provide help to those families affected by the storm’s impact. 

We were able to collect donations and send eight tractor trailers filled with multiple essential supplies including clothing, shoes, gloves, and sanitizing wipes to help them start the road to recovery.

Flooding in Vermont and New Hampshire

In July 2023, parts of Vermont and New Hampshire saw devastating flood waters from torrential rainfall. Although none of our Ocean State Job Lot stores or associates were affected, our Charitable Foundation stepped up to supply an 18-wheeler full of personal protective equipment (PPE), including sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer, to the Ludlow, VT Rotary. The products were then distributed through community centers in surrounding Vermont towns, including Mount Holly, Cavendish, Proctorsville, and Plymouth. With the support of Rotary District Governor Angela Ponte; Ludlow Rotary President Thomas Ray; Nancy Hampton-Beeley, a long-time Rotarian and Ocean State Job Lot associate; and many volunteers who assisted with the donation distribution, thousands of people in need received PPE.

Crisis Relief 

Earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Whether near or far, at Ocean State Job Lot we take pride in being able to assist others in times of disaster and uncertainty.

Below are recent pictures of some of the many tents which have been sent to Syrian refugees, thanks to the generosity of our customers, our associates, and our community partners. These photos were sent to us by members of the Multifaith Alliance, a leading responder to the Syrian refugee crisis.

The devastation in Turkey and Syria reached a critical point in February 2023, with thousands of lives lost and neighborhoods left in ruin.

Together with our customers, we were able to send $1 million in supplies, including blankets, coats, cold weather clothing, hygiene products, and outdoor tents from our distribution center in North Kingstown, Rhode Island to assist individuals and families in need.

War in Ukraine

Thanks to the generosity of our customers, and our friends at the New England Patriots, The Kraft Foundation, and Partners for World Health, six tractor-trailer shipments of frontline medical supplies, health and hygiene products, nutritious food and warm clothing have been delivered to Ukraine. As with all our donations, 100% of every dollar raised helped provide these crucial supplies.

Six tractor-trailers of frontline medical supplies to Ukraine

Ocean State Job Lot tractor-trailers transported supplies to Port Handy, New Jersey, where they were airlifted to Poland and subsequently distributed throughout Ukraine by our European partners, including Razom.

We Supported The People of Israel

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, thousands of Israeli civilians were met by deadly ground incursions and rocket barrages by Hamas, a terrorist organization from the Gaza Strip. On that day, a war between the people of Israel and Hamas began.

Ocean State Job Lot worked with our Israeli partners on the ground – Brothers and Sisters for Israel, Friends of the IDF, and Ruach Nechona (the “Right Spirit”) – to deliver humanitarian aid in the form of:

  • Financial support to the victims and their families
  • Delivery of food, clothing, hygienic products and other essential goods
  • Evacuation of the wounded and stranded civilians from war zones
  • Housing accommodations for displaced civilians
  • Intelligence gathering to aid in recovery of kidnapped civilians

Since all administrative costs are borne by the business of Ocean State Job Lot, 100% of the donations made through the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation benefited the people of Israel. With your generosity, we have been able to make a difference in the lives of thousands of Israelis. We thank you for partnering with us to help the people of Israel.

Giving Gallery

UPDATES FROM OUR PARTNERS ON THE GROUND

Friday, Nov 3, 2023

Brothers and Sisters for Israel – In an exclusive interview with Jake Tapper at CNN, learn how our partners at Brothers and Sisters transformed from a pro-democracy movement to the largest civilian relief effort in Israel, with over 15,000 volunteers.  Today, there are over 150,000 displaced Israeli civilians requiring a broad range of humanitarian aid and together with Brothers and Sisters, we are making a difference on the ground!

Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023

Brothers and Sisters for Israel – In ten days, over 15,000 civilian volunteers have shown up to support Israel’s largest humanitarian relief program, Brothers and Sisters for Israel. Organized across multiple buildings in the Tel Aviv Exposition Center, this sprawling logistics operation encompasses dozens of team working on project including:

  1. Missing Persons – Computer scientists working to cross-reference photographic data with information on the dark web, to identify missing persons whereabouts.
  2. Displaced Families – Operations center to intake refugees forced to flee their kibbutzim, providing money, food, shelter clothing and other basic materials.
  3. Human Rescue – Ongoing rescue operations to safely evacuate families from war zones.
  4. Animal Rescue – Focussed on rescuing animals left behind during emergency evacuations.
  5. Tactical Equipment – Purchasing and distribution of critical tactical gear like ceramic vests, to make up the current shortfall and needs on the ground.

Below are two videos showing some of the humanitarian relief and rescue operations Brothers and Sisters for Israel are leading:

Friday, Oct 13, 2023

Ruach Nechona (the “Right Spirit”) – Despite most of the leadership being called up into duty, our volunteers at Ruach Nechona continue to provide critical supplies – medical supplies, backpacks, thermal underwear, food etc. – to lone soldiers and their units scattered throughout Israel. Currently, we are supporting over a dozen different units with supplies! Here are a few pictures from a few recent supply drops around the country.

Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023

Brothers and Sisters for Israel – One of the largest civilian aid organizations operating in Israel – are at the forefront of efforts to provide immediate support to civilians and soldiers in the line of fire.

From the onset of this war, we have continuously mobilized critical supplies and resources, locating missing individuals, distributing generous donations to the public, and procuring vital equipment. We are running an unprecedented comprehensive logistical operation that leaves no requests unanswered. Here’s an inside look into our Operations HQ:

As the death toll from the Hamas onslaught continues to climb, your support is invaluable and will allow us to continue to scale the crucial efforts.