DETROIT — Great Lakes Wines & Spirits, a Michigan beverage distributor, will depart Detroit on Wednesday and deliver more than 1,100 cases of bottled water to tornado ravaged Oklahoma communities.
The organization will be part of a relief convoy organized by Forgotten Harvest that will bring aid and assistance to people affected by the massive May 20 tornadoes. At least two dozen people, including 20 children, were killed in the disaster. More than 4,000 homes, businesses, and other buildings were destroyed in a five-county area.
“When we saw the devastation in Oklahoma, all of us at Great Lakes Wines and Spirits wanted to step up and help,” said Syd Ross, co-owner of the company. “Whether the disaster is here in the Midwest or a deadly tornado in the Great Plains, our company and our employees roll up our sleeves and go where help is needed. We want to do what we can to deliver some relief to our fellow Americans who are suffering in the Sooner State.”
The orgranization will donate 1,189 cases of bottled water, totaling about 41,550 pounds. The water will be delivered on a truck, driven by an employee from the company’s Detroit location and is expected to arrive June 7 in Ground Zero near the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore. Many of the distributor’s employees will be involved in packing and preparing the shipment of water for delivery. The relief convoy is being organized by Forgotten Harvest, the nation’s largest food rescue based in Detroit.
Great Lkes Wines & Spirits is based in Highland Park and Detroit, and distributes wines, spirits, and beer through the state. With more than 800 employees, the company also has distribution and operation centers in Bay City, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Petoskey, Gaylord, and Marquette. The company serves more than 17,000 customers, including restaurants, retailers, and taverns statewide.
