Firestone Natural Rubber operates a 118,000-acre rubber growing and processing facility in Harbel, Liberia.

"We recognized that as great as our own need is for materials and equipment to rebuild our operation’s infrastructure, the humanitarian need is even greater," said Dan Adomitis, president of Firestone Natural Rubber. "That’s why we have been hard at work to improve life for Liberians by rebuilding housing, schools and medical clinics. Another way we hope to help Liberia rebound from the devastation of the civil war is by working with other concerned organizations to bring needed items into the country."

The company said it regularly transports materials and equipment to Liberia and brings back latex from its rubber operation there.

The company said it will work with aid qualified organizations to ship relief items to the country, opening up cargo space on its ships through the remainder of 2006 to carry “relief goods and other donated cargo to Liberia.”