Ocean State Job Lot Partners with Customers to Donate Supplies to Turkey, Syria

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), a leading discount closeout retailer headquartered in Rhode Island with stores throughout New England, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, recently donated and coordinated the shipment of essential supplies to help those impacted by the deadly earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. More than 40,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured.

OSJL partnered with its customers to donate more than $1 million in supplies, sending more than 35 types of items, including tents, blankets, coats, sweaters, socks, and health and hygiene products such as sanitizers, soap, and alcohol wipes. The items were shipped to Syria and Turkey, leveraging OSJL’s broad transportation network.

All of the donated supplies were purchased at cost, in part through donations made by customers at each OSJL store to the 501(c)(3) Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation to support the relief efforts. Monetary donations are still being accepted in-store and online at www.oceanstatejoblot.com/crisis-and-natural-disaster-relief-program.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of the catastrophic earthquakes that claimed the lives of so many in Turkey and Syria,” said David Sarlitto, executive director of the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation. “As residents work toward recovery, while enduring the worst of the winter elements, we are humbled to provide what assistance we can, and thank our generous customers for their support.”