When a natural disaster strikes, the first priorities are usually saving lives, restoring essential services, and helping communities rebuild. Yet in places such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), pets are considered part of the family. Protecting them is therefore an important part of the community’s broader recovery.

Super Typhoon Sinlaku left thousands of animals exposed to hunger, injury, and inadequate medical care. In response, FedEx stepped in to provide vital logistical assistance, helping move urgently needed supplies to the islands at a time when normal supply routes had been severely disrupted.

The Devastation Left by Super Typhoon Sinlaku
The storm caused extensive damage across Saipan and nearby islands, resulting in widespread power failures, flooding, and major interruptions to transportation and supply networks. Among the resources suddenly in short supply were pet food and veterinary supplies.

The challenge was particularly serious for a community that depends on visiting veterinarians and local animal rescue organizations. Pets that had been displaced or injured by the storm, along with animals living in the community, urgently required food, treatment, and other forms of care.

FedEx Helps Move Critical Supplies
In a disaster environment, getting essential materials to the right place quickly can have life-or-death consequences. Understanding this need, FedEx contributed in-kind transportation services to help deliver pet food for the animal relief operation.

Through its extensive transportation network, FedEx moved substantial donations of pet food provided by Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Open Farm to the ASPCA’s disaster response teams. Having these supplies delivered directly to the teams allowed veterinarians and rescuers to concentrate on treating injured animals, conducting field operations, and addressing other urgent needs without having to worry about sourcing or transporting large quantities of food.

Helping Animals and Families Recover
The coordinated relief operation made a meaningful difference across the islands. With FedEx providing timely in-kind transportation for donated pet food from Hill’s and Open Farm, the ASPCA and its partners were able to provide essential nutrition and veterinary assistance to at least 1,100 pets. More than 2,000 veterinary care and supply distribution services were also carried out as part of the recovery effort.

The initiative accomplished more than restoring the flow of essential supplies. It helped bring comfort, care, and hope to families whose lives had been disrupted by the disaster.

For FedEx, supporting a community means being prepared to respond when circumstances change without warning. By assisting the ASPCA and local organizations in Saipan, FedEx contributed more than transportation. It helped deliver essential nourishment, strengthen recovery efforts, and give vulnerable animals and their families a renewed sense of hope.

Denny Hamlin, the three-time Daytona 500 Champion, and driver of the #11 FedEx Toyota, along with his #11 FedEx pit crew, FedEx volunteers and Operation Warm, delivered over 150 new pairs of shoes to children at the Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County. The shoes were manufactured by Operation Warm and funded through the FedEx Cares program. The event was held on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
 
To make the event special, each child had a chance to create their own shoe design using colored pencils on a paper template from the Jordan brand. Out of the drawings submitted by the children receiving shoes, Denny will select his top 3 favorite designs that will be put to a fan vote on @fedex social media channels. The winning design will be brought to life and worn by Hamlin at Daytona International Speedway on August 26 for the last race of the regular season.
 
All kids left as winners, receiving new shoes, a die-cast replica of the #11 FedEx Cares Toyota and a Denny Hamlin hero card. The highlight for many students and FedEx volunteers was the opportunity to meet Denny and take a photograph in front of his #11 FedEx Toyota Camry race car parked out front of the event.
 
“I have got to do a lot of different things with FedEx,” said Hamlin. “We’ve rebuilt houses for tornado victims, we’ve done things with St. Jude’s Children Hospital, and with the Salvation Army, but anything with kids always touches your heart.
 
“For us, to put shoes on the kids’ feet, the Operation Warm program’s core belief is that every kid deserves the basics. That’s shoes on their feet and clothes on their back. FedEx is really giving back to the community, and we were able to do that this week. I am really happy to be a part of an organization like FedEx that gives back so much to the community, especially when it involves kids that are around my kids’ age. It puts things in perspective of how fortunate we are.”
 
The statement you provided is part of the FedEx Cares Drive Forward, Give Back campaign. This campaign is a part of the FedEx Cares program, which is a global community engagement program that aims to make the world a better place through in-kind shipping, volunteering, and charitable giving.
 
The campaign focuses on the belief that every action that improves our world, whether by working with nonprofits or doing other acts of kindness, is something extraordinary.