Hanesbrands Inc. Donates Ambulance and Eco-Stoves as Part of Community Development Projects
Hanesbrands bought 100 eco-stoves for $5,000 and employees went into the neighborhood of La Argentina in San Juan Opico to deliver them to residents in need of the cleaner, more efficient wood-burning stoves for cooking. The stoves--called eCocinas in Spanish--are made locally in El Salvador and are significantly more energy efficient and significantly reduce smoke and carbon emissions.
“Hanesbrands’ support of the community is important because they understand the needs of our families,” said Guadalupe Avalos, a resident of La Argentina who received an eCocina. “These stoves will not only save us money on firewood, but will also help us live healthier. We are very grateful to Hanesbrands for their support.”
Many rural Salvadorans rely on wood-burning stoves to cook meals inside their homes, which often do not have sufficient ventilation. As a result, they suffer from a high occurrence of respiratory diseases due to constant inhalation of smoke. The eCocinas use 60 percent less wood, emit 90 percent less smoke than traditional wood-burning stoves. The use of the donated stoves is expected to reduce the rate of respiratory illnesses, as well as the number of trees cut down for fuel.