As the devastation of Hurricane Harvey continues to unfold in South and Southeast Texas, the need for support and resources for those affected is becoming increasingly clear. While cash and electronic donations are certainly helpful, another often-overlooked but incredibly valuable resource is the useable swag that is often left over from vendor booths at events like VMworld.

Think about it: vendor booths often have a surplus of items such as t-shirts, tote bags, water bottles, and other promotional materials that are not only useful but also provide a tangible reminder of the support and solidarity of the IT community. And yet, these items are often discarded or thrown away after the event is over.

But what if we could repurpose these items to help those in need? What if we could take the excess swag from VMworld and other events and send it to Hurricane Harvey victims who are struggling to rebuild their lives?

I know that many of us in the IT community are driven by a desire to solve problems and make a difference. And what better way to do so than by leveraging the resources we already have at our disposal? I challenge each and every one of you to consider donating your unused swag to a relief organization that can get it into the hands of those who need it most.

I know that @VMware, @DellEMC, @HPE, @Cisco, and all of the other major vendors have the ability to make a real difference here. I also know that the #vExpert and @DellEMC communities are full of people who are passionate about helping others and making a positive impact.

So let’s put our collective resources to good use. Let’s gather up all of the excess swag from VMworld and other events, and send it to those in need. It may not seem like much, but every little bit counts when it comes to helping people rebuild their lives after a disaster.

And if you are able to go into the affected areas and help with disaster relief, even better! I know that I will be taking my chainsaw and other tools to help as soon as I am allowed to do so.

What can YOU do?!?!? The answer is simple: we can all make a difference by leveraging the resources we already have to help those in need. So let’s get started!