Month: September 2024

The sun beat down on the large tent in the bustling parking lot as the crowd gathered in its shade. Parked next to the tent, a brand new canteen truck shimmered in the sunlight. A bright red ribbon held the vehicle captive. It was no ordinary truck. It was a lifeline, a symbol of hope and resilience. On August 14th, in St. Marys, Georgia FedEx made its 25th donation of a mobile canteen to The Salvation Army.

At the event, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. The Salvation Army uses mobile canteens to bring relief to people in crisis. Responding to hurricanes and floods, fires and blizzards, the mobile kitchens are a constant presence, offering hot meals, clean water, and a sense of comfort.

Cheers erupted when the red ribbon was cut, celebrating the relief that the vehicle will bring to so many. Something most attendees didn’t know was that even before the ribbon cutting event, the canteen had already been put to work. Just a week earlier, Hurricane Debby had swept through the region, leaving a trail of destruction. The Salvation Army had immediately deployed the mobile canteen to provide aid to those impacted by the storm.

As the event wrapped up, a sense of gratitude washed over the crowd. They had witnessed the power of generosity and compassion. The 25th mobile canteen is more than just a vehicle; it is a symbol of hope, a lifeline for those in need.

The Salvation Army Service Center in St. Marys, Georgia is now the home of the new canteen. The region, known for its coastal beauty, is no stranger to hurricanes. The canteen will be stationed there, ready to respond to any disaster that might strike.

Its mission won’t be limited to emergencies. It will be used year-round to serve people in need. It will be a mobile beacon of hope, offering comfort and support to those facing hardship.

FedEx began donating mobile canteens to The Salvation Army in 2006. The canteens have helped people affected by flooding in Brazil, fires in Australia, hurricanes in Florida, homelessness in California, and earthquakes in Puerto Rico. They’ve served people in 18 cities across the U.S. and in 7 other countries.

These rolling kitchens of compassion are making a difference as they serve those in need around the world.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

Twisters, from Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., and Amblin, is a current-day chapter of the 1996 blockbuster. The filmmakers were committed to incorporating the latest climate and tornado science into this modern-day story.

The cast and crew were joined by real-life tornado experts throughout production to bring accurate science to the film. This included Kevin Kelleher, former director of the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma, who served as a technical consultant on Twisters as well as the original film. They were also advised by other scientific experts, including NRDC’s Rewrite the Future team who consult across many Universal projects.

Researchers have found that tornado alley – the area of the central U.S. where tornadoes occur most frequently – has been expanding into more highly populated areas of the south-central and southeastern U.S. These changes are making tornadoes more difficult to predict and therefore more difficult for communities to prepare – a dynamic that moviegoers see play out in Twisters. The film partnered with the American Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Filmmakers also worked to bring modern-day climate solutions into the film, with on-screen representation of Oklahoma’s powerful wind industry – where wind energy accounts for more than 40% of total in-state electricity generation1.

The first film inspired so many people to get into weather science and research. I would love if that would happen with this movie and inspire the next generation of scientists.
– Lee Isaac Chung, Twisters director

Twisters and Universal also went beyond the script to engage audiences. This included creating an in-theater sustainability video featuring Twisters director Lee Isaac Chung to help inspire moviegoers in the weeks leading up to the release, as well as participating in the 2024 Hollywood Climate Summit.

Twisters was one of the first films to be greenlit under Universal’s recently launched GreenerLight Program, an initiative that aims to incorporate sustainability across the entire filmmaking process through development, production, and distribution.

Behind the scenes, Twisters had a dedicated sustainability team focused on reducing fuel, plastic, and waste. This included use of mobile batteries, grid ties, and solar-powered trailers to reduce the need for diesel generators, as well as a no-idling policy for cars and trucks. The team also donated excess food from catering, and set materials went to local organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.

Twisters received a Green Seal from the Environmental Media Association, which recognizes efforts in sustainable production.

1 Source: https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=OK#:~:text=Wind%20and%20natural%20gas%20together,and%20natural%20gas%20fueled%2043%25.