Greetings, American Rental Association (ARA) members across Florida and Region Three.
As we head into the beautiful fall season and out of the dark cloud that was Hurricane Ian, I want to share a few words of encouragement for those who were impacted and those who are still trying to rebuild.
You are not alone. During the last couple of weeks, I have taken to the phones and reached out to our members from both the equipment and party segments. Some are still running on generators, and some are operating with a skeleton crew as their employees have been left without homes. These conversations got harder and more heartbreaking as I went down the list. I felt compelled to assist in any way I could, so I shared these members’ stories with ARA national. The immediate response was like a sunbeam breaking through the clouds.
Rebuilding is going to be a long and overwhelming process, but just know you are not alone. ARA is here to lend a helping hand, primarily through the Disaster Relief Grants available through the ARA Foundation. These include grants for both rental businesses and their employees. You can find more information on these programs here.
If you have been impacted by the hurricane, I also encourage you to reach out to the leader of your ARA state chapter. We will do our best to assist you. Together, we are Rental Strong.
Carol Fontanez
Rental manager, Jamco, Sanford, Fla., and ARA of Florida president
407-302-5400
carol@jamco1.com