Boeing is donating US$1 million from its charitable trust to assist with disaster recovery and relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. The Chicago-headquartered aircraft manufacturer joins a long line of companies now donating money and resources to hurricane-battered communities.

Hurricane Ida was a category four hurricane that cut a swathe through Louisiana in late August and early September 2021. It caused an estimated US$50 billion in damages and led to the deaths of 116 people.

"Our thoughts are with all our friends, neighbors, and teammates in Louisiana and the Northeast who are dealing with the unprecedented impacts from Hurricane Ida," said Jennifer Lowe, Boeing's vice president of National Strategy & Engagement."

Boeing has some skin in the game in Louisiana, including 820 employees. Most of those employees work at NASA's Space Launch System at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

The American Red Cross is a big Boeing beneficiary

Boeing is donating half the money to the American Red Cross. In the weeks since Hurricane Ida, the Red Cross has provided 616,000 meals and snacks to storm victims. The Red Cross has also distributed 253,000 relief items, and provided financial assistance to 2,620 households (home to 7,400 people) who have experienced loss. As recently as Monday night, the Red Cross provided emergency shelter to 760 people still experiencing homelessness due to Hurricane Ida.

"The Red Cross is now starting to get emergency financial assistance into the hands of residents whose homes were severely impacted by Ida. This financial assistance will allow people to make their own decisions and prioritize what their family needs most to start recovering," the NGO says in a statement.

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Boeing donations target on the ground charities

The other half of the donated money is split between six charitable organizations, including the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the Bayou Recovery Fund, World Central Kitchen, the Food Bank of South Jersey, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, and Combined Arms.

All six charities are local on the ground organizations. The Greater New Orleans Foundations, which focuses on cleanup and recovery efforts, is receiving $100,000. The Bayou Recovery Fund, which cleans up and rehabilitates damaged local coastlines, is getting the same amount.

As its name implies, the World Central Kitchen feeds people. World Central Kitchens have served over 25,000 meals a day to more than 100 locations in New Orleans and neighboring communities in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Boeing is donating $100,000 to them.

"We're grateful for Boeing's support and belief in our mission, which helps us carry out this critical work providing nourishing meals for those in need, and look forward to their team engaging with our future relief work," says World Central Kitchen's Nate Mook.

New Jersey charities also benefit from Boeing donations

Hurricane Ida's impact was felt further afield than Louisiana. Boeing's choice of charities to donate to reflects this. In New Jersey, Camden-based Food Bank of South Jersey is on the receiving end of $75,000 from Boeing. The Community Foodbank of New Jersey is getting the same amount. Both NGOs are in the business of providing food to people in crisis situations.

Finally, Boeing is donating $50,000 to Combined Arms. They are an NGO that targets military veterans and their families, in this case, military veterans and their families knocked around by Hurricane Ida.

Boeing says it has an ongoing commitment to the communities where they have a presence. Boeing says they've donated $8.7 to good causes in Louisiana and northeast states in the last half-decade. This includes over $1.6 million specifically directed towards hurricane relief.