In the past year, the U.S. has suffered through several natural disasters that spanned the country, including forest fires on the West Coast and Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose and several others that hit the Gulf and East Coasts and neighboring islands. These unforeseen catastrophes produced significant devastation and destruction, causing many people to lose their homes and loved ones. Natural disasters can leave those residents helpless and in search of resources such as first aid, clothing, food and shelter –- the most basic necessities.

Fortunately, there are many people and organizations, such as Molex, ready and willing to step in and help. Molex was honored to be part of an ongoing effort to help rebuild Houston, a city devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Earlier this year, the Molex Industrial Sales Team gathered in Houston — the energy capital of the world — for their annual sales team meeting. Harvey was the first hurricane in over 12 years to make landfall, bringing the city to a complete standstill with severe flooding and thousands of damaged homes.

A team of 50 Molex employees picked up their tool belts, rolled up their sleeves and got to work to help rebuild communities ravaged by Hurricane Harvey through the organization Rebuilding Together: Houston. This organization leverages local resources and materials to help repair the homes of low-income and elderly individuals, U.S. military veterans and homeowners with disabilities. Individuals or companies can participate in the rebuilding efforts by helping make simple home repairs, restoring damaged roofs or completely gutting and reconstructing homes from the inside out.

In critical disaster-relief situations, organizations like Rebuilding Together: Houston turn to companies with expertise in developing solutions with water ingress protection and durability that can withstand harsh environments.

Molex donated sets of industrial Woodhead LED String Lights to provide temporary and portable power to maintain these rebuilding efforts with a safe lighting choice. The string lights will continue to be used as temporary lighting to illuminate future jobs and relief efforts in the area. In addition to donating over $50,000 in time and resources, Molex presented the Rebuilding Houston: Together organization with a charitable donation of $29,000 to help it continue this important work.