How Georgia-Pacific and Convoy of Hope Serve Survivors

CORRIGAN, Texas, August 20, 2024 /3BL/ - When Hurricane Beryl pushed through east Texas in July, many communities were left without power or running water. Among those communities were the cities of Corrigan and Camden, home to Georgia-Pacific lumber and plywood operations.

The Corrigan and Camden facilities were temporarily shut down in the days following the storm, as were supermarkets and gas stations, leaving more than 1,500 employees and their neighbors without basic necessities. So Georgia-Pacific moved quickly to coordinate with longtime partner Convoy of Hope to help with relief efforts.

The company connected Convoy of Hope with the Corrigan mayor’s office, and the next day a truck loaded with non-perishable food, drinking water and other essentials was on the way. When the shipment arrived, Georgia-Pacific employees, city workers and volunteers helped distribute supplies to more than 500 Corrigan-Camden area residents.

The response demonstrated the mutually beneficial nature of the partnership between Georgia-Pacific and Convoy of Hope. Georgia-Pacific often donates products to provide relief to survivors in the aftermath of natural disasters and other crises around the world, from hurricanes in Texas to wildfires in Hawaii to the war in Gaza.

“Convoy of Hope is so grateful for the partnership of Georgia-Pacific,” said Ethan Forhetz, Convoy of Hope’s vice president of public engagement. “Knowing we have partners like Georgia-Pacific who step up during times of crisis allows us to serve people better.”

Georgia-Pacific has donated more than $11 million worth of product to Convoy of Hope since 2008, including paper towels and toilet paper to be included in hygiene kits and lumber and other building products to be used in rebuilding homes and businesses.

Just this summer, the Broadway facility in Green Bay, Wisconsin, donated 120 pallets—more than 5,700 packages—of paper towels to Convoy of Hope. The rolls were produced using the facility’s new through air-dried paper machines.

That donation, combined with a separate donation by the Brawny® brand, contributed to a record 204,442 pounds of Brawny® product that Georgia-Pacific has donated to Convoy of Hope in 2024. That’s 190,080 rolls of paper towels—approximately 22 full truckloads.

In Corrigan and Camden, Convoy of Hope was able to return the favor, providing aid to a Georgia-Pacific community.

“Convoy of Hope is on pace to respond to a record number of disasters this year, including Hurricane Beryl, and we couldn’t do it without the generosity and support of Georgia-Pacific,” Ethan said. “They are helping Convoy of Hope deliver hope to survivors of the storm.”

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