We are only as strong as the communities of which we are a part and, at Prologis, we are working hard to understand how we can support the needs of our communities across the globe during the current coronavirus crisis.
For this reason, the Prologis Foundation has launched a £4.05 million ($5 million dollar) global relief fund to provide financial support to non-profit and community-based organisations on the frontlines of the response. In the coming weeks, we will donate much-needed funds to partners across the globe, with an emphasis on feeding those in need and helping to alleviate the medical impact of Covid-19. We will provide an update about our chosen partners in the coming weeks.
We also realise that our buildings can play a vital role in supporting people and organisations throughout the crisis. That’s why, through the ‘space for good’ initiative, Prologis has donated approximately 450,000 square feet of buildings and yard space in five regions across the globe, with more donations pending.
At Prologis in the UK we already support The Real Junk Food Project, a charity fighting hunger by rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste from supermarkets and restaurants, converting it into healthy, nutritious meals on a ‘Pay-As-You-Feel’ basis via its cafés located around Birmingham and Solihull. Through the Prologis ‘space for good’ initiative we offered them space in a vacant building in Solihull and currently, this space is being used to store food for distribution to needy local people who are self-isolating, in addition to feeding many families in need.
Prologis UK has also made physical donations of food to The Trussell Trust foodbanks close to its Head Office in Solihull and has made a further financial donation to The Trussell Trust to help it continue to feed those in need during the crisis. We have also offered support to Solihull Council to help it support the most vulnerable members of the community and are exploring other ways in which we can provide further financial or physical support to the local community in Solihull. This is part of our commitment to deliver social value through the development of the Logistics Operation Centre for Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull.
For the parents of children with life threatening or life-limiting conditions, the current situation is particularly stressful. Often, parents or carers are on low or no income as they may have given up work to care for their sick child. These children are also amongst some of the most vulnerable in our communities and are currently being shielded at home or in a hospice. That’s why, at Prologis UK we are supporting midlands-based charity, Acorns Childrens Hospice with donations of food and equipment to support families with vulnerable children during lockdown.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve also been blown-away by stories about Prologis UK employees using their time and skills to support their local communities. Some people have volunteered to deliver food and prescriptions to the doors of elderly or vulnerable residents, some are volunteering a couple of hours at their local food bank or hospice and others are talking to elderly neighbours on the phone to help them feel less isolated.
During these challenging times, the health, safety and wellbeing of our communities, customers and employees is our priority and we are working with them to try and provide the support they need.