3:30 p.m. Sept. 26, 2018. This post will be updated, so please check back.
Hurricane Florence may be gone, but it left its impact on communities in the southeast U.S., Best Buy is now focused on long-term recovery in affected areas.
Here’s what we’re doing:
For communities
- Partnering with the Salvation Army: We’ve provided tablets to the Salvation Army’s mobile “canteen” trucks, which deliver food and Wi-Fi connectivity to people. These tablets can be used to apply for federal disaster relief aid, contact loved ones and handle insurance claims.
- Powering up: We are distributing charging units, cables and batteries through the Salvation Army disaster response service centers and for use in shelters.
- Internet, entertainment at shelters: Working with nonprofit partners, we’re also poised to deploy fully functional internet cafés at shelters, where affected residents will be able to apply for aid and contact friends and family. Once long-term shelters are established, we will set up entertainment centers — complete with large-screen TVs, Blu-ray players and family friendly movies — for children to enjoy.
- Helping hands: Geek Squad Agents and Blue Shirts are helping with the distribution and set up of the technology.
- Red Cross donations: Customers can donate to the Red Cross via BestBuy.com, the Best Buy mobile app or during the checkout process at our stores.
For employees
- Employee assistance: Best Buy employees in disaster-stricken areas have been assisted with emergency assistance and are eligible for financial support from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, established by the company’s founder, Dick Schulze.
- Donations matched: Employees who give to the Schulze fund for the benefit of their affected colleagues can have their donations matched 100 percent by Best Buy.
- Gift of time: Best Buy employees are donating their paid time off to affected colleagues in disaster areas.
We invite customers to support recovery efforts by donating to the Red Cross.