Procter & Gamble donates inventory from child development center

ALBANY — What might have been a bad situation for some Procter & Gamble families in Albany last year led to a significant benefit for nonprofits in Southwest Georgia this week.

The Albany plant donated inventory from its former child development center to United Way of Southwest Georgia on Tuesday morning, meant in part to be a partnership in the community between the industry community and United Way to enrich nonprofit agencies focused on the well-being of children.

Tables, chairs, cribs, toys and painting supplies were among the items left behind in the center after it closed in July due to under-utilization following 11 years of operation. P&G contacted United Way thinking the items there could be used by its agencies for the children it serves.

At 10 a.m., trucks were at the center picking up items, and up to 95 percent of the inventory had been spoken for.

The donation also brought to the forefront that United Way and Albany area industries have a connection going beyond monetary collection. LaKisha Bryant Bruce, the executive director of United Way, said the donation is a reflection of P&G’s commitment to United Way.

“This is tens of thousands of dollars saved for organizations (using the inventory),” she said. “The population that these organizations tend to serve is at or below poverty level.

“It’s already a worthwhile investment.”

Damali Orozco, site human resources manager for the P&G plant, said that after the decision to close, there was a pull to make good use of the property — much of which appeared to be gently used.

“We wanted to make sure it didn’t go to waste,” she said.

DeAnn Julian, deputy director of the Albany Advocacy Resource Center, was at the plant to claim property for its child development center. This comes at a time that Albany ARC is expanding its child development center, and like many nonprofits, it does not have abundant resources to work with.

Thus, Albany ARC officials were eager to take advantage of quality items the organization might not have been able to get otherwise.

“(Taking) this furniture and not having to buy it is a wonderful thing,” Julian said.