HOUSTON — Advance Auto Parts Inc.'s new distribution center in Houston will begin shipping to stores on Oct. 23 amid the company's recovery from Hurricane Harvey in September.
The parts distributor said it has raised more than $400,000 to support internal hurricane relief efforts for the company's employees in impacted areas. Funds already have been distributed to support team members and their families that were impacted by Hurricane Harvey, the company said.
The support came from the company's non-profit Team Member Assistance Fund, which provides help to team members who experience hardship due to a natural disaster or other events beyond their control.
Advance said support for the Houston community is ongoing as it plans to work with customers to ensure product availability and that emergency supplies needed to do business are available to the region's automotive industry.
To aid the recovery efforts, Advance used its new Houston distribution center to stage relief supplies and also is helping professional shops replace or finance damaged shop equipment and tools, so these professional installers can reopen their own businesses, the company said.
Advance operates nearly 100 stores in the greater Houston area and has more than 900 store employees that work in the market. In addition, the company employs 125 in the distribution center and Worldpac branches.
All Houston-area Advance locations are now open to serve do-it-yourself and professional customers in the area, the company said.
An Advance Auto Parts store on Rayford Road in Spring, Texas, was the final Advance store to reopen on Sept. 28. The store had been closed since Aug. 26 due to extensive flooding by Hurricane Harvey.
"I could not be prouder of our Houston team for showing all of our customers and team members across Advance Auto Parts what 'Houston Strong' means," said Advance President and CEO Tom Greco.
"We had many team members and their families who were significantly impacted by Hurricane Harvey, some of whom were tragically displaced from their homes and personal belongings. Our entire company has rallied around these team members as well as our customers in Houston.
"Our company's mission is 'Passion for Customers … Passion for Yes!' Not only have our Houston team members demonstrated to all of us what this mission is all about, they have done so in an exemplary fashion.
"On behalf of all of us at Advance, I'd like to thank our entire Houston area leadership team for taking care of our people and our customers. They stood tall against tremendous adversity and helped others in a time of great need. We are proud to continue to support recovery efforts for our team, customers and communities."
Advance said it paid all full- and part-time employees for their scheduled hours, even if a location was closed due to the storm and flooding.
Advance operates 5,073 stores and 131 Worldpac branches in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.