Thousands of Haitians are drinking Raleigh water.
Matthew Bucherati, vice president of operations at Pepsi Bottling Ventures, last week began organizing a donation of 2,889 cases of Aquafina produced in Raleigh to victims of the earthquake in Haiti. That's 69,336 bottles.
Bucherati got approval from Keith Reimer, CEO of the Raleigh-based company, and used contacts at Ft. Bragg, a Pepsi Bottling customer, to arrange the delivery to Charleston and then to Haiti.
Bucherati, who has been with the company for more than 20 years, "knows how to make things happen," said Pepsi Bottling spokesman George Suddath. "He got it in his head that he was going to make this happen and give some immediate relief. Hopefully, we'll be able to provide some more."
The donation is just one of many by companies with Triangle operations.
Parata Systems of Durham donated two pill-dispensing robots to help with medicine distribution. GlaxoSmithKline, which has its North American headquarters in Research Triangle Park, gave $1.4 million worth of antibiotics and said more is coming.
On Saturday from Noon to midnight, Rush Hour Karting in Garner will hold a "Help Race Funds for Haiti" fundraiser and donate all proceeds to the Red Cross, said owner Adam Saad.
"In this recession, our business hasn't been doing that well, even though we're slowly starting to pick up," Saad said. "But compared to these people, I'm doing great. It's just devastating to watch the news on TV."
Pepsi Bottling Ventures employs about 2,500 people in seven states, including 1,700 in North Carolina.
Assistant Business Editor Alan M. Wolf joined the N&O in 1999 covering the business of health care. He became an editor in 2001, and helps oversee the paper's daily business coverage and Sunday Work&Money section. He lives in Clayton with his wife and two children. Reach him at 919-829-4572 or 
