Gist lorry takes aid to the Ukraine
A Gist lorry driver recently swapped his usual load of Marks & Spencer’s foods for a cargo of much needed aid for orphans in The Ukraine. Michael Drake, who is based at the specialist logistics operator’s Hemel Hempstead depot, has just returned from the 12-day, 4,000 mile round trip which saw his Gist lorry used to deliver basic items such as flour, nappies and washing powder.
Thanks to donations from his colleagues at the depot and the local community, Michael was able to fill his thirteen metre truck to capacity with over seventeen tonnes of aid. This meant that as well as visiting 280 children at three orphanages in Timki, Zamgli and Stara Bassam, Michael was also able to take tinned food to the residents of Chernigov, near the fallout area of Chernobyl.
Michael comments: “The Ukraine has no child benefit system and few families receive money from the government to support their households. Many of the orphans suffer from illness and some are severely disabled – all are in desperate need of help.
“I was overwhelmed by the support and donations that I received from both Gist and the local community and the trip was a huge success from start to finish. I firmly believe that it’s made a real difference to the children’s lives and I’d love to do another trip in the future.”
Neil Emery, Gist’s general manager - Hemel Hempstead, adds: “This is a really worthy cause and we were more than happy to allow Michael to take the Gist vehicle to The Ukraine. Wherever possible, we support charitable initiatives that our employees are involved in.”
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Notes to editors
Gist combines leading edge experience and expertise to transform supply chains through intelligent application of innovative leading edge technology, unique solutions tailored to customers’ strategies, managing change and embracing and enhancing the supply chain proposition. With industry specific experience, expertise and excellence, Gist’s solutions bring end-to-end visibility and implementation, from concept to delivery.
Gist, based in the United Kingdom, has its head office at Basingstoke in Hampshire. However, Gist’s 4,500 employees operate out of 28 locations, providing a full range of intellectual and asset-based business offering in the UK, continental Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America.
Gist’s customers (including Ocado, Marks & Spencer, British Airways, Carlsberg UK and Budgens) operate in a wide range of commercial and industrial sectors, including grocery, electronics, apparel and gas.
As part of the BOC Group, which serves two million customers in more than 50 countries, Gist also benefits from BOC’s global capability, synergy and scale.
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