November 19, 2024

Lighting Industry Leaders Join Forces to Bring Aid and Illumination to Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

When lighting industry sales representative Steve Knighten received the call from Jacob Spino, owner of Christie’s Lighting Gallery, to join Hurricane Helene relief efforts, he took immediate action. One fortuitous phone call led to a powerful alliance, resulting in one of the largest contributions yet to help the people of Western North Carolina recover from the storm’s devastation.

"Devastation" is the only word for it: official warnings of “catastrophic” and “historic” flooding became a grim reality, leaving behind neighborhoods of shattered homes and memories for returning evacuees. Steve recalls Jacob Spino’s determination to help. “Jacob had already started collaborating with the Asheville Home Builders Association to provide families with essential aid— not just building materials, but also food and clean water. When I got the call, I immediately reached out to GM Lighting CEO, Rob Gerber, in Los Angeles.”

Although LA didn’t feel the impact of Hurricane Helene, Rob felt the urgency in Steve’s request to support the recovery. His lighting manufacturing company, already familiar with humanitarian efforts through partnerships with organizations like Project4Humanity, quickly mobilized to assist— from addressing food insecurity to providing essential lighting equipment. “Rob was on board right away,” Steve says. “He didn’t just write a check; he brought Ashley into the effort, and that’s when things really took off.”

GM Lighting President Ashley Gloster was the final element that cemented the solidarity of these formidable forces of the lighting industry.

“Steve forwarded the request from Christie’s Lighting asking for help” remembered Ashley. “ I reached out to our LTL carrier, Custom Companies, to ask them to provide the freight for what would be a significant donation. Perry Mendera who is the owner and a very generous guy jumped at the chance. He delivered over 6 pallets of lighting fixtures for free to the people who were rebuilding their homes.”

Those six pallets contained thousands of undercabinet and recessed lights, along with mounting and power supplies. Enough to help light the way for hundreds of families whose lives were devastated. Corporations that are long thought as unfeeling and rigid in their day to day operations are run by human beings. In the case of lighting rep Steve Knighten, Rob Gerber and Ashley Glosterof GM Lighting, and Jacob Spino of Christie’s Lighting Gallery – we are reminded that the lighting industry will always be first to the plate when it comes to shining a light on disaster relief.