-Posted: September 13, 2001
We have put in motion bottled water deliveries in all 3 impacted locations (NYC, DC, Pennsylvania). Deliveries include single-serve units, one gallon units and, in some cases five gallon units. All of these delivery efforts have been completed via many relief agencies such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, National Guard, Fire Departments, FEMA, NYC Emergency Services, State Police, etc. As those agencies ask for more on a regular basis, the Culligan trucks are immediately deployed.

-Posted: September 13, 2001
Coordination with such agencies is critical so that the water ends up in the right areas at the right time. In the case of lower Manhattan, it does not even move into the city without a police escort. Culligan-branded trucks make the deliveries. Most of the contact links are now set up...the challenge is to maintain solid inventory quantities so it is staged and ready to move on a moment's notice. We appear to be OK on that front today, but we are sending backup water from Florida and New Jersey. -Posted: September 13, 2001We have already delivered 150,000 bottles and that number will continue to rise. We have just given the green light to ship bottled water from Florida up to NYC and more to our dealer just outside of Washington (which coincidentally has the ongoing Pentagon account). There will be more to follow as warehousing and relief needs warrant. Our Culligan dealers (both franchise and company-owned) in the areas have essentially focused all their operational resources on disaster relief. There are several reports of Culligan deliveries stopping along the escort route to provide cases to weary firefighters and relief workers.

-Posted: September 13, 2001
As part of our national protocol, The American Red Cross in Washington is setting up additional, longer-term relief sites in concert with FEMA and State agencies. They are very aware of our ability and desire and will call us with the water specs and locations tomorrow.

-Posted: September 13, 2001
"Tuesday evening and Wednesday, September 11 and 12, 2001 Culligan Edison, working with the Mayor, NYPD, NYFD, the American Red Cross and Con Edison distributed almost 22,000 Culligan 20 oz Sports Bottles, over half of them individually handed out to the heroic individuals frantically participating in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center in NYC. Every one of them, to the person, no matter how emotionally exhausted or shell-shocked they appeared, specifically thanked us for being there. They thanked us, and they were the ones in the middle of the catastrophe, leading the charge to save lives and restore normalcy.

There are no television or newspaper reports or descriptions to describe the area now widely known as "ground zero". The devastation is indescribable. The media is reporting several weeks to clean up. It will be months. I built the South Tower to the 73rd level. I still do not believe it is gone. Culligan Edison has MANY of our employees, in their role as Volunteer Firefighters, involved in the efforts. One of our people reported last evening that he was standing on the 110th floor of the South Tower----at ground level.

Our hearts, prayers, sympathy and respect go out to all involved. If you know someone who was participated in any role, victim or rescuer, say a prayer for them. None will ever be the same." I hope you will all take a bit of extra time this weekend to hug your children and your loved ones and reflect on how precious our freedom and our lives are.

-Posted: September 13, 2001
CODD dealerships in East Orange, Edison and Commack and Baltimore have been particularly focused on relief efforts. More details and stories and stories to follow

-Posted: September 13, 2001
Jay Trumball (Panama City, FL.) is producing and shipping small pack BW into the CODD system for backup quantity.

-Posted: September 13, 2001
Dealers in Frienden, PA. (Margie Stoner Kelly) and Youngstown, OH. (Buzz Cooksey) have donated water to assist efforts at the PA. Crash site.

-Posted: September 13, 2001
I was watching the news during lunch today when they pulled 5 firefighters out alive. The first thing they handed one was a cell phone to call his mother on. The second was a reporters microphone. The third was 2 bottles of Culligan water.

-Posted: September 14, 2001
Many of you have asked for a periodic update as to Culligan's volunteer efforts to date in the NY & NJ region. Our dedicated team has already donated a substantial amount of Culligan water to many groups including the Mayors office of emergency mgmt , NYPD, NYFD, Salvation, Army, American Red Cross, Police Academy, Army National guard, etc. We are working closing with both FEMA and the police to deploy bottle water to the appropriate channels as needed!!! Below is an excellent example of the type of exemplary support that our dedicated USFilter and Culligan employees are undertaking. Paul Jones and our Edison team continue to do a sensational job by facilitating the recovery efforts at ground zero and have hand distributed well over 20,000 sports bottles. In addition, both Peter Nicholas and Ed Bornfleth (…GM's of our Commack, NY and East Orange, NJ Culligan bottling facilities, respectively) have led by example and coordinated relief efforts on behalf of our outstanding company. These two companies have also personally distributed and donated a huge amount of H2O to date. We contributed over 35,000 bottles of small pac to the Salvation Army at the Liberty State Park triage center; another 30,000 bottles of small pac to the National guard center and the many volunteer firemen or policemen that we encountered in the streets; and, we plan to send more tomorrow to both the Mayor's and NY congressional group centers. We also have provided in excess of 500 5-gallon bottles, some coolers and hand pumps to the Police Academy. Lastly, over 150 cases of our 1-gallon product have also been distributed to various volunteer organizations. The bottomline is at I'm extremely pleased that we can make a difference and proud of the way that our regional team has contributed throughout the relief efforts!!! I'm sure that our great company will continue to do the right thing, collaborate as a team and make a positive impact to those heroic individuals in the field!!!! I will keep you posted with another update in the near future. Thanks again for your support and valued leadership!!

-Posted: September 21, 2001
The following article written by John Mullin of the Chicago Tribune appeared on Wednesday, September 19: Culligan is very proud to be associated with this event.

100-Yard U.S. flag to blanket field "Coincidence will give Bears fans a special moment Sunday when all stand at Soldier Field for the singing of the national anthem.

An American flag measuring 100 yards by 53 years, will be unfurled over the playing field before the Bears-Minnesota Vikings game. The flag, used at the Culligan Holiday Bowl, is circulated to various sites during the year.

The flag, believed to be the largest in the nation, will be handled by 250 volunteers from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in North Chicago."

Posted: September 24, 2001
Today 14 pallets (1008 cases) of PET 16.9oz went out to Baltimore from Panama City (Jay Trumbel) 8 Pallets (480 cases) of PET 16.9 oz went out to Friedens PA from Northbrook. Last but not least 5,000 cases went out to Jay Harper in East Orange and probably another 5,000 cases will go out the following week. I will keep you posted on anything else. IN TOTAL 24,192 (1008 cases) + 11,520 (480 cases) + 120,000 (5,000 cases) = 155,712 (single serve 16.9oz) have been sent.

-Posted: September 24, 2001
Since culligan of Hilton Head could not volunteer our time or donate water To the cause in New York City we decided to purchase t shirts from ITC a local company that made special shirts with the statue of liberty, the American flag, and "God Bless America" on the front with a note-" I Supported the disaster relief fund."

Local businesses sold the shirts for $10 each with $7 going directly to the fund. Demand was high and the shirts difficult to get for many islanders. On Tuesday, September, 18th our complete staff at culligan of the Low Country took off our culligan uniforms and wore these shirts for one day to honor and remember those that have lost their lives and those that have worked so hard in the rescue and clean-up.

-Posted: September 26, 2001
Week No. 2 As many have requested, here's the latest update as we close out the second week since the disaster took place. Although our overall water donation efforts are somewhat reduced this past week, there remain significant contributions and efforts worth recognizing from many of our regional Culligan employees. We continue to work closely with both FEMA and the Salvation Army to deploy water as needed. Much of the incoming supplies of water are being stockpiled by the Salvation Army or other relief agencies for future use. As inventory levels drop, we are prepared to replenish accordingly.The emails below highlight some of our initial regional team NYC relief efforts. Examples of current regional efforts worth recognizing for the past week include the following

Our regional team remains focused on doing the right thing and helping the NYC relief efforts wherever needed. We are also starting to balance operational focus on getting back to work and contribute to this great company. We will keep you apprised on any future developments. Thanks again for your support!!!