Franchises Deliver Storm Relief

When Hurricane Harvey rushed ashore a few weeks ago, its flooding rains brought damage and destruction to numerous communities around Houston. Franchise brands and local franchisees on the ground wasted no time getting right to work in a number of unique and admirable ways.

For example, Lapels Dry Cleaning of Katy (a Houston suburb) began offering flood-ravaged customers $40 in free dry cleaning and 25 percent off their entire order after that. The store is also eliminating its fees to process wet clothes for dry cleaning. The franchisee's locations in Katy and Richmond plan to honor the offer throughout September.

"We were very fortunate in our part of Katy not to suffer anywhere near the damage that many of our fellow Texans did. This offer is the least we can do to help out our fellow Texans and we hope it helps in some small way in getting things a little back to normal," said Komal Patel, owner of Lapels Dry Cleaning of Katy and Lapels Dry Cleaning of Richmond.

Houston-based restaurant chain Salata has 33 units in the Houston area and experienced the wrath of the Hurricane and record flooding right at home. The chain is encouraging guests to join them in raising funds for the hurricane victims. Participating restaurants system-wide will collect donations through Sept. 30, with proceeds going to The JJ Watt Foundation.

The brand also provided free meals for first responders in uniform at 24 of its Houston-area locations over the Labor Day weekend.

Pei Wei was another brand that witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by the storm and subsequent flooding. To help aid in the recovery, Pei Wei delivered food to shelters in Houston and surrounding areas. The company pledged a $10,000 direct donation to The JJ Watt Foundation to assist in aiding flood victims. Pei Wei also took the opportunity to provide free meals to first responders during the first week of September.

Of Pei Wei's 20 restaurants in the area, 19 have reopened for business since the storm.

These are just three examples of franchise brands and franchisees doing good things for the right reasons in their communities.