Many sports and outdoor companies have committed donations to the relief efforts organized by several organizations for the survivors of the devastating earthquakes that struck Nepal on Apr. 25 and May 13, causing more than 8,000 deaths and depriving the remaining population of houses, food and water.
We have already reported in our Outdoor Industry Compass about the relief efforts of Sherpa Adventure Gear, Columbia Sportswear and the European Outdoor Conservation Association. Since then, we have learnt that Oberalp and Skechers have also made important gestures. Oberalp has sent out 600 kilos of tents and sleeping bags to Kathmandu to accommodate 200 people. Skechers has announced the donation of more than 62,000 pairs of (new) Bobs shoes to the children who have survived the natural disaster, under a charitable program that has led the company to distribute 11 million pairs since 2011.
Sherpa Adventure Gear, whose knitting facilities are located in the valley of Kathmandu, escaped the first earthquake, except for a wall in the main building. The second earthquake hit their outer structures, but apparently there were again no casualties among the workers, many of whom operate out of their homes. As some of the workers lost their ancestral or rented homes, and many others have been involved in the relief efforts, the company told its clients on May 5 that they should expect a delay in shipments of six to eight weeks. The company is accelerating earlier plans to transfer some of the manufacturing process to two other villages in Nepal, training the local people, while looking for other factories in the mid-western plains of the country. Meanwhile, it is using some of the blankets it has in stock to make simple tents for the survivors.
Sherpa Adventure Gear has also asked retailers to set up special “charity boxes” in their stores for donations by the customers. After the first earthquake, it announced the establishment of a fund to collect at least $30,000. It has a already received funds or commitments for $129,887, including £20,000 (€27,750-$31,400) coming from the company's European distributor, Bradshaw Taylor.
The company said that all the money collected through this specific earthquake relief fund, “Help Sherpas Help Nepal,” would be dedicated to direct relief efforts through the company's existing network in villages where the company supports the education of sherpas' children.
