ALAN presents Humanitarian Logistics Awards to supporters of disaster relief efforts

The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) took the opportunity to recognize and thank organizations and individuals in the logistics field that played a major role in helping with disaster relief efforts over the last year at CSCMP's EDGE Conference in October.

Highlighting the critical role of logistics in saving lives in times of natural disaster, ALAN's Humanitarian Logistics Awards are awarded to supply chain professionals and organizations who have demonstrated a commitment to disaster relief efforts.

"Last year, we launched these awards to honor the many individuals and companies who consistently go above and beyond to serve others," said ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton. "This year, we're pleased to welcome six more highly deserving individuals or organizations to the winners' circle."

Dr. Alison Thompson, a former medic, math teacher, and Wall Street investment banker who rollerbladed to Ground Zero in New York City on Sept 11, 2001, to serve as a volunteer rescue worker, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her subsequent 17-year career as a full-time volunteer global humanitarian.

Other key honorees included:

• The Shippers Group, which received ALAN's Outstanding Contribution Award,for donating space and labor in Dallas, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, that helped nonprofits provide comfort to families returning home after Hurricane Harvey and safely clean up Caribbean communities after hurricanes Irma and Maria.

• Estes Express Lines and The Home Depot, which received ALAN's Employee Engagement Award, for teaming up to deliver cleaning supplies, food, and hydration to the Florida Keys after Hurricane Irma.

• MIT's Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab and LIFT Non-Profit Logistics, which received ALAN's Director's Partnership Award, for their role in helping ALAN provide daily updates about the information and resources critical to restoration of private supply chains during hurricanes Lane and Florence. The two organizations also provided expertise on everything from ensuring survivors' safe evacuation to key deliveries of food, water, and medicine in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.