Urgent Medical Supplies and Suitcases for Maui victims

ORANGE, Calif. - Aug. 18, 2023 - PRLog -- Global non-profit Not Just Tourists (NJT) is teaming up with luggage stores throughout the area to collect and fill suitcases with much needed medical supplies to be transported to fire ravaged Maui.

The Orange County Chapter of Not Just Tourists, in partnership with Briggs & Riley Travelware, has rallied seven luggage stores from Canoga Park to San Diego to serve as drop off locations for new or used wheeled suitcase donations. Not Just Tourists' volunteers will then pick bags up to fill with general medical supplies and deliver for transport to Maui.

Carl Eaton director of the Orange County chapter said "Not Just Tourists has already sent out over 1,000 pounds of medical supplies to Maui in the few days since the disaster, and we are just getting started. The need is always there, whether Maui or other struggling areas."

"We wanted to do something for Maui at this time of crisis," said Steve Rooten from Rooten's Travel & Adventure in Irvine, CA, who like most Southern Californians has ties to Hawaii. "It had to be what the people of Maui need and want and this is it. We can use our resources to help in a real way."

"I am impressed at how quickly our local retail partners reacted and wanted to help" said Annslie Bigbee of Briggs & Riley. "The great thing about suitcases is they not only carry life-saving supplies where needed, but also are then given to people who have been displaced to transport their belongings."

Not Just Tourists, founded 30 years ago, has been facilitating the transport of medical supplies and equipment to over 82 countries worldwide.

Briggs & Riley, also founded 30 years ago, operates an annual trade-In event A Case for Giving which collects luggage for foster care, shelters, and other non-profit agencies.

The full list of drop off locations in Southern CA for new or used wheeled suitcases can be found below (Denver and New York City retailers also participating):

• Rooten's Travel & Adventure: 17775 Main Street Irvine
• Index Urban (two locations): 3833 4^th Avenue San Diego, 967 South Coast Highway Suite 105B Encinitas
• H Savinar Luggage (two locations): 10730 Washington Blvd Culver City, 6931 Topanga Canyon Blvd Canoga Park
• Briggs & Riley: 395 Santa Monica Place Suite 242 Santa Monica
• Lazar's Luggage: 14528 Ventura Blvd Sherman Oaks

For more information please contact:

• Not Just Tourists/Orange County Directors Carl and Tara Eaton, 657-8348-4236, email oc@njt.net, website njt.net (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%...)
• Annslie Bigbee, Briggs & Riley Travelware, 631-838-2558, email abigbee@briggs-riley.com