INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 8, 2006) — Firestone Natural Rubber Co., the rubber plantation operation of Bridgestone Corp., is helping deliver humanitarian supplies and equipment to war-torn Liberia aboard its cargo ships.
Firestone cargo ships are transporting Living Water International trucks that are being used by volunteers to restore clean water in Liberia. Living Water is a nonprofit organization that sends volunteer teams abroad to provide residents of developing countries with safe drinking water. Living Water Carolinas, a Living Water International affiliate in Greenville, S.C., plans to send the fourth of its four volunteer teams to Liberia by year-end to repair water pumps and drill wells throughout the country.
Firestone Natural Rubber, an operating unit of BFS Diversified Products L.L.C., operates a 118,000-acre rubber growing and processing facility in Liberia, employing approximately 6,000.
“The cost to ship this kind of equipment—which includes four large trucks—is considerable, so we are grateful that Firestone Natural Rubber partnered with us to donate the space so we could hit the ground running when we arrived in Liberia,” said Bruce Whitmire, vice president of African programs for Living Water International.
In addition, Firestone Natural Rubber in July started shipping other humanitarian materials from qualified charitable organizations to Liberia through the year-end. Firestone, which is covering the ocean freight expense, will accept non-perishable foods, medical supplies, new/used clothing and school books and supplies and deliver it to Monrovia in its ships.
For more information, visit the company´s Web site at www.firestonenaturalrubber.com.