Fellow Coca-Cola UNITED Associates:

The catastrophic devastation of Hurricane Michael along the Panhandle of Florida and in south Alabama and Georgia has been shocking for all of us.  For the past 48 hours, we have been assessing the damage and, most importantly, trying to reach our associates, a difficult feat since cellular service has been out in Panama City.  As of this morning, we have reached about 50 percent of our associates in the Panama City area.  It is heartbreaking to report that the impact to our associates across the region has been significant.
 
Our Panama City and Bainbridge facilities were hit the hardest.  We are hopeful that Bainbridge will open next week; however, Panama City, along with the community at large, will be a much longer process.
 
There are varying degrees of facility damage at our other locations; however, most of these are back in operation or soon will be.
 
I do want to share that it has been remarkable to see how our local and facility teams have been finding ways to access our facilities, over trees, debris and a multitude of other obstacles.  Our Coca-Cola UNITED team has weathered many storms together, and what always amazes me is our fighting spirit and how we come together in faith to move forward and support one another.
 
Coca-Cola UNITED is contributing $100,000 to our Coca-Cola UNITED Employee Assistance Fund>, which was established in 2016 following the Louisiana floods.  This fund is solely to help our Coca-Cola UNITED associates who are impacted by a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Michael.
 
Please join me in making a tax-deductible donation to this fund to help our fellow Coca-Cola UNITED associates.  The need will be great, and this is a way to show our fellow associates that their Coca-Cola UNITED family is with them.  (Click image or link to give in support of your fellow associates)
 

I ask you to please continue your generous spirit and keep our colleagues and their families in your thoughts and prayers each day.  We will keep you updated on our fellow associates and the status of our operations, as well as other ways our team can help.

With my gratitude,
John Sherman
 

Read about even more relief efforts from the heart … THE COCA-COLA COMPANY, FOUNDATION AND LOCAL BOTTLER JOIN TOGETHER TO SUPPORT HURRICANE MICHAEL RELIEF >