I frequently write about the opportunities holidaysparticularly the winter holidayspresent to self-storage operators by way of charity, community building and marketing. I've been reading a lot over the past few weeks about companies doing wonderful work in the neighborhoods they serve, and I want to share a few here. Perhaps they'll inspire you!

In Palm Springs, Calif., Airport Self Storage has made a temporary and whimsical name change to Airport Elf Storage and is providing free storage to anyone who wants to hide holiday gifts, large and small. From Dec. 1 until 10 p.m. on Dec. 24, customers can bring items for tagging and stowing. The facility will even store super-mega gifts like a vehicle! Man, oh, man! If only my hubby were stashing a Harley for me this year! (Dont have a heart attack, honey. Its just a blog fantasy.)

The facility is also setting up a gift wrapping/assembly station in its lobby. And owner David Gandolfo is donating space for storing gifts to Operation Santa, a charity that collects and distributes toys to children in need. (By the way, Airport Self Storage is also powered almost entirely by about 35,000 square feet of solar panels. Im very impressed by this socially and environmentally conscious business.)
 
Hawaii Self Storage is collecting donations for the Lokahi Giving Project, a partnership between Hawaii news station KHON2 and Keiki O Ka Aina Family Learning Centers. The non-profit organization assists people in crisis: children, the elderly and underprivileged men and women. It works with more than 125 non-profits, social-service agencies, shelters, group homes and hospitals.

In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Storage Bin Self Storage Centers has teamed up with the U.S Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program to collect gifts for under-privileged children. The company has set up drop-off points at seven of its facilities, hoping to collect 1,000 new, unwrapped toys for the Marines to distribute to kids this season.

I'm sure there are many other generous holiday initiatives under way at storage facilities throughout the nation. I'd love to hear about more of them. Please do share by posting a comment to this blog. And if you're hiding a Harley for me in a unit somewhere, you're an angel!