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Brightway Insurance delivers disaster preparedness kits to students in Jacksonville, Fla.

Aug 30, 2018

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JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — As Brightway Insurance observes its 10-year anniversary this month, employees decided the best way to celebrate would be to give back to the local community. Employees visited Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School Wednesday, Aug. 29, in Jacksonville, Fla., to deliver disaster preparedness kits and a message about being ready at home for a disaster to students. Employees donated 240 kits, which they assembled during the company’s anniversary celebration on Aug. 20.

“Giving back is a big part of Brightway’s culture, and creating disaster kits for local children was a natural fit considering our business is all about helping people prepare for catastrophic events,” said Bianca Soto, a Team Lead in Brightway’s Service Center who spearheads the company’s annual charitable campaign through the United Way. “We had a lot of fun talking with the students at Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary about being ready for a hurricane, fire and other types of events, and they were thrilled to receive their very own kits.”

Brightway coordinated the disaster kits through the local United Way. Employees packed each kit with a first aid kit, blanket, hand sanitizer, AAA batteries, tissues, activity pad and colored pencils, flashlight, glow stick, whistle, water bottle, snack and poncho.

“The disaster kits for kids project is one of my favorite projects. It’s really important to educate kids on an all-hazards approach to disaster preparedness. We work with the children because they’re going to go home and talk about what they learned today and share their disaster kits with their families, making it more likely that families have a disaster kit and a communication plan in place at the time of a disaster. It’s not just for hurricanes, but for floods, fires or other disasters that happen,” said Jenny O’Donnell, manager for volunteerism for the United Way of Northeast Florida.

“I hope students will learn to take it (a disaster) seriously and know what to do and be fully prepared. At the same time, I hope they learn not to be nervous when disasters come and have next steps and a plan in place,” said Charlene T. James, Principal at Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School.

James said the school has monthly drills to prepare for an event that may occur during school hours, but this is the first time they have introduced being prepared for a disaster at home to students.

About Brightway Insurance Brightway Insurance is a national property/casualty insurance retailer selling through a network of franchised independent stores throughout the country. With more than $543 million in annualized written premium, the company is one of the largest personal lines agencies in the United States.

Brightway began franchising operations in 2008 and has since grown to more than 800 people in 20 states serving customers in all 50 states. Forbes has recognized the company as America’s No. 1 Franchise to Buy. Additionally, the company was named a top franchise three years in a row by Entrepreneur magazine and one of the fastest-growing private companies in America nine consecutive years by Inc. 5000. People wishing to learn more about franchise ownership with Brightway may visit our franchise page and find us on LinkedIn. Consumers seeking a better insurance buying experience may visit Brightway.com and find us on Facebook.

Brightway employees created and delivered disaster preparedness kits to students at Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary in Jacksonville, Fla., Wednesday, Aug. 29, in celebration of its 10-year anniversary.

Brightway’s Randy Mixson talks to students about being prepared for an emergency while delivering disaster kits to students at Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School.

Brightway Executive Chair and Co-Founder, David Miller (second from right), and Brightway’s Jennifer Meadows, (far right) delivered 240 disaster kits to Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School to be distributed to students on Aug. 29. A United Way representative and the school principal greeted the two upon delivery.

Each kit contained a first aid kit, blanket, hand sanitizer, AAA batteries, tissues, activity pad and colored pencils, flashlight, glow stick, whistle, bottled water, snack and poncho.