Sukup Manufacturing donates grain bin houses to Haiti Relief Fund

A Powerful Partnership Bringing Safe Homes to Haitian Families

SHEFFIELD — A meaningful partnership between Sukup Manufacturing Co. of Sheffield and the Haiti Relief Fund is set to provide 16 homeless Haitian families with safe, durable, all-steel homes. After more than a year of research, planning, and innovation, Sukup successfully transformed grain storage bins into practical and secure living spaces.

From Grain Storage to Safe Homes

Known worldwide for its grain storage equipment, Sukup Manufacturing reimagined its expertise to address a humanitarian crisis. The result is the Safe-T-Home—a grain bin converted into a strong, weather-resistant house designed specifically for challenging environments like Haiti.

Recently, Sukup’s ownership team met with Carlos Thertus, President and Founder of the Haiti Relief Fund, to discuss the logistics of delivering these unique homes to families who need them most.

Responding to Haiti’s Greatest Needs

Carlos Thertus founded the Haiti Relief Fund in 2004 following Hurricane Jeanne. However, he described the 2010 earthquake as an unprecedented disaster.

“It felt like everything we had done up to that point was nothing,” Thertus said. “After the earthquake, it was crazy.”

Since its founding, the Haiti Relief Fund has provided food, clothing, medical equipment, and healthcare support to communities across 10 cities in Haiti, maintaining a strong focus on long-term health and recovery.

Designed for Safety, Comfort, and Durability

According to Thertus, Sukup’s donation directly addresses Haiti’s urgent housing challenges.

“The donation from Sukup is a key to Haiti’s needs,” he said. “The homes are expandable, keep out heat and bugs, and are safer during the hurricane season.”

The idea for the bin homes originated with Sukup employee Brett Nelson, who had long envisioned a bin house and reached out to Thertus to explore its potential impact. Brad Poppen, an agricultural technician at Sukup, led the transformation of the grain bin into the Safe-T-Home.

The homes feature:

• A specially designed roof for heat reduction and continuous airflow

• All-steel construction to prevent termite and insect damage

• Strong materials suitable for extreme weather conditions

A Commitment from a Family-Owned Business

“It’s great to use our expertise to design a home like this,” said Steve Sukup, CFO and Vice President of Sukup Manufacturing. “Being part of a family-owned business, it feels good to provide a safe home to families who have been through so much and are in need.”

Looking Ahead

The homes are scheduled to be shipped to Haiti in early April. All necessary tools and equipment will be included, and each Safe-T-Home is designed to be fully assembled in less than two days.

— By Laura Bird