Company donates $7,000 for Irene

A company that provides vanity 800 numbers and web-based call tracking announced a big donation toward the continued recovery from Tropical Storm Irene.

The company, 800response, of Burlington is donating $7,000 to charitable organizations throughout the state in support of the local communities and families affected by Irene.

Following the storm, the volunteer committee at 800response began circulating weekly updates on community-organized volunteer activities that were taking place within the local community.

“Thankfully, we did not have any employees severely affected by the storm," said Laura Noonan, vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "As a group, we were able to lend our time, support and funds to various organized events throughout the area that were helping these communities clean up and rebuild in the wake of the storm."

Employees of 800response participated in numerous volunteer initiatives, donating clothes, food, funds and manpower during the most dire time, immediately following the storm.

With the colder weather approaching, and recognizing that many families are still trying to recover, the company announced an initiative in November to their group of 40 employees: 800response would match employee donations two-to-one. In all, the company raised $7,000 through this effort.

“The holidays are a hard time for many, and this year will be especially difficult for those families who have lost their homes or suffered extreme damage from Hurricane Irene,"

Noonan said. "We are a fortunate group to not have been directly affected, and we’re taking that good fortune and doing what we can to share it with others."

The funds raised by 800response and the company’s employees will be donated to multiple organizations, including Revitalizing Waterbury, Vermont & The New Hampshire Valley Red Cross, Vermont Foodbank, Spring Hill Horse Rescue, Waterbury Area Food Shelf, Duxbury Elf’s Shelf, and the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund c/o the United Way.