Last December 2008, Costa Rica’s Caribbean province, Limon, was affected by floods, and thousands of inhabitants lost their belongings, homes, and even worse, their families. As soon as this incident was decreed a national emergency, Tonnino donated 2,000 boxes of tuna cans (worth $70,000) to the province’s most affected regions. The floods affected these regions for over 9 days, and over 6,500 people where living in 78 shelters. The company tried to alleviate the needs of all those affected, and encouraged other companies to do so as well. Karla Alfaro, one of the company’s brand managers, was asked to offer a few encouraging words to the public. This was not the first time the company contributed to emergencies caused by natural disasters.
This past January 8, 2009, nature struck again the country, this time with a 6.2 earthquake, where mountains fell, streets collapsed, and hundreds of homes where destroyed. Several days after the disaster, bodies where still being found buried under shattered homes and dirt. The tragedy had such a magnitude, that the government and many private and public companies where brought together to contribute in different ways to the community. Tonnino donated a variety of 96,000 tuna cans, which represents 2,000 boxes of product (worth over $62,000). The company made 2 donations: the first 500 tuna boxes were given to Bor-Kar, a local company that volunteered to administer all donations since the first day after the earthquake. The other 1,500 boxes were given to the Presidential House organization, entity in charge of distributing all donations.
When earthquakes, floods, or any other harmful incidents from nature affect the country, Tonnino shows solidarity by donating tuna products to the homeless and those with few or no income. Tonnino invites all other Costa Rican companies to unite for a good cause.
