

HELP POURS IN AFTER MIDWEST FLOOD

The flood waters that left much of the Midwest submerged earlier this year took many by surprise. Equally as unexpected is the amount of aid that has flowed in from coast to coast. Following the lead of Toyota Motor Corp. (which gave $500,000 to the American Red Cross to aid flood victims), several Toyota Industrial Equipment (TIE) dealers have donated material handling equipment to hasten relief efforts. Vernon Overby, dealer principal of F-M Forklift (Fargo, N.D.), couldn't ignore a request for such a worthy cause. F-M Forklift was asked by the Salvation Army for several forklifts to use in a Fargo supply center. Goods sent in from all across the country are stored in the converted warehouse, where flood victims can obtain perishable food and cleaning supplies, among other necessities. All of the five forklifts Overby donated to the center are still in use, running constantly in the 24-hour warehouse. Overby stated, "It is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the community in times when help is truly needed." In April, another area dealership, Minnesota Lift Truck (MLT/Brooklyn Park), donated an 8,000 pound forklift to help haul 142,000 pounds of relief supplies collected by the employees of one of its clients, Northwest Airlines, and the customers of a local store. Northwest airlifted the goods to Grand Forks, Minn., where MLT's Toyota lift truck was waiting to unload bottled water, disposable diapers, cleaning products and other needed supplies. MLT is glad it could help. According to President Rene Salonen, "We take pride in our commitment to the communityespecially when we are so capable of making a big difference."