The numbers being reported out of Venezuela are staggering. To comprehend the results of two major earthquakes on June 24 as anything more than statistics is a harrowing exercise. But that’s the first step in a call to action.
- At least 4,490 dead
- At least 16,700 injured
- At least 17,900 left homeless
For all that tragedy and destruction that has already happened, the earthquakes have left ongoing turmoil in these communities. They actively need help, and the branded community can come together to play its part. Team On Demand has jumped to action and is ready to assist. Now, the organization is calling on promo leaders – distributors, suppliers, business service providers – to come together and help with the mission of aid to Venezuela.
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- Team On Demand was founded by Desk Plants’ Lawrence Hanley and Taylor Promo Marketing’s Rusty Pepper in the wake of the deadly floods that struck central Texas in 2025.
- Hanley and Pepper felt that the branded merch industry was uniquely positioned to mobilize for disaster support due to all the specific resources it could offer such as warehouses for temporary storage, useful supplies, different geographical locations and monetary flexibility.
In the specific case of helping Team On Demand aid the Venezuelan communities affected by earthquakes, three easy options have been established:
- Anyone can purchase crucially needed materials such as diapers, emergency whistles, first aid kits or tampons through this Amazon Wishlist, all of which Team On Demand will deliver to the communities.
- Branded merch firms can donate overruns, misprints, blank items, or inventory tabbed for donations directly to Desk Plant’s warehouse, which can be coordinated by emailing Lawrence@Deskplants.com.
- In order to support Team On Demand’s logistical costs of sending resources to Venezuela, the organization is hoping to raise $25,000. You can donate here.
Putting Together A Playbook For Branded Merch Mobilization
Pepper and Hanley both live in Central Texas, so when 2025’s tragic floods struck out of nowhere, they, like so many other people, were left horrified and helpless. It was in this moment that they realized that the branded merch community does not have to feel helpless when disaster strikes. If a system is in place, they can mobilize.
“There are so many people that want to do good in this industry,” said Pepper. “They want to give back. They just don’t know where to go.”
Hanley says that the money and the supplies are not just out-of-sight-out-of-mind for Team On Demand. The organization goes to the site of the disaster and faces the tragedy. They do what they can to make a positive impact and come back to the branded merch community with a story to tell.
“We want to be a tangible thing that people can engage in,” Hanley says. The other thing is, we want to tell the story after these missions are completed, so that people see, ‘Hey, I was a part of the cleanup for Hurricane X, you know, in November or whatever. And I really feel like my donation went somewhere.’ Then they can even post about it and say, ‘Hey, look, I donated to this cause. It was amazing.’”
