Top 40 supplier Charles River Apparel (asi/44620) is on a cross-country mission to help people in Houston impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Charles River is mobilizing team members from Massachusetts to Atlanta to help drive a van packed with donated supplies to the flood-ravaged Texas city as part of a campaign called “Relay to Relief.”

Donations include new Charles River raincoats, polo shirts, doggie raincoats and even Walmart gift cards. Company owners Barry and Deb Lipsett drove the first leg of the journey, traveling from the supplier’s Sharon, MA, headquarters to ASI’s offices in Trevose, PA. There, on Wednesday morning, the Lipsetts met up with Charles River East Coast Regional Manager Mark Gama, who then set out for Charlottesville, NC, where rep Kent Davis was to take the wheel until arriving in Atlanta. From there, VP of Sales Rich Corvalan was to drive the final leg of the journey to Houston.

In addition to providing free supplies, Charles River plans to donate the van – along with 240 doggie rain jackets – to a Texas animal rescue shelter. The company is also donating $10,000 to the Houston Food Bank as part of ASI’s matching donation Harvey relief efforts. ASI is pledging to match cash contributions up to $25,000 to three organizations – The Houston Food Bank, The American Red Cross and the Food Bank of Corpus Christi.

In speaking with ASI Wednesday morning, the Lipsetts said when the devastation people in Houston are facing became clear, they knew they had to do something to help. Indeed, Barry Lipsett said that one of the responsibilities and values of having a business is giving back.

“This is part of our mission at Charles River,” said Barry Lipsett, whose company also provided supplies and donated a van as part of Hurricane Katrina relief in 2005. “It’s the least we can do.”

Deb Lipsett expressed similar sentiments, saying that as a family-owned business with family values, helping those in need is a top priority. “It’s in our DNA,” said Deb Lipsett, who doubles as director of Charles River Cares. “It’s the way we live, 24/7. Charitable giving is such an important part of our culture. Employees were jumping at the chance to be a part of giving back to the Houston community.”

Beyond Charles River Apparel, companies throughout the promo products industry have stepped up to help people impacted by Hurricane Harvey. They include Houston’s Hirsch Gift (asi/61005), which was collecting items the company will personally deliver to those in need. Similarly, Pepco Poms’ (asi/77280) Jeanna Abercrombie was spearheading a drive to collect school supplies and children’s clothing.

Fruit of the Loom (asi/84257) is sending two semi-tractor trailers full of essential clothing items like underwear, T-shirts, sweatshirts and sweatpants. HanesBrands (asi/59528) is also donating more than five trailer loads of underwear, socks, T-shirts and fleeces.