Hertz Furniture Systems Donating Classroom Furniture to Accommodate Hurricane Evacuees

MAHWAH, N.J. -- Following the devastation in several Gulf Coast states in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, school districts throughout Texas will be absorbing tens of thousands of displaced students in the coming weeks. To help alleviate the need for adequate classroom furnishings, Hertz Furniture Systems -- a leading supplier of school, church and office furniture -- is donating a truckload of desks, chairs and chair/desk units to the San Antonio Independent School District.

On Sept. 13, a 53-foot truck provided by Prompt Logistics of Toronto, Ontario, fully loaded with enough furniture for eight classrooms, departed Hertz Furniture System’s warehouse in New Jersey bound for San Antonio. The shipment is due to arrive on Sept. 20. The retail value of the donated furniture exceeds $60,000.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the hurricane victims and those helping them,” says CEO Mark Wagner. “Although the public has heard about the generosity of the many school districts enrolling extra students, they might not be aware of the strain it will put on existing space and furniture. This is just one small way Hertz Furniture Systems is giving back to our loyal customers in Texas who are reaching out to those displaced by the hurricane.”

“Education Service Center Region 20 would like to thank Hertz Furniture Systems on behalf of Hurricane Katrina evacuee children who are in our area,” says Jeff Stone, associate director of business and human resources for Region 20. “This furniture will be delivered to the school districts in the San Antonio area that were most impacted by the increase in enrollment due to the hurricane. Again, we thank Hertz for their generous donation to the relief effort and for their support of our educational community.”

Hertz also has a limited supply of chairs and desks available for free to authorized school districts throughout the United States. Shipping costs are not included. Interested schools are encouraged to e-mail hurricanerelief@hertzfurniture.com for more information.

For additional information, contact Hertz Furniture Systems Multi-Channel Marketing Director Lee Bielinki at 800.526.4677 or leeb@hertzfurniture.com.