CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Workers at the U.S. Paper Mill in Chillicothe are donating 100 cases of gloves to support earthquake relief efforts in Panama, sending American-made supplies from Ross County to a country still responding to a powerful earthquake that struck earlier this month.
The donation is being directed to U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera, according to information provided about the effort and a letter dated Oct. 19, 2026, signed by employees of the Chillicothe facility. In the letter, the workers framed the shipment as a gesture of solidarity from Ohio workers to friends abroad in a moment of need.
“As Americans have done throughout our history, we stand ready to support our allies in times of need,” the workers wrote. The letter also identifies the supplies as American-made products originating in Chillicothe, adding: “Made in Chillicothe, Ohio, by American workers — with pride, purpose, and in support of our friends in Panama.” The document is signed by numerous employees under the closing, “The Men and Women of U.S. Paper Mill, Chillicothe, Ohio.”
A photograph accompanying the announcement shows workers gathered around a wrapped shipment at the facility, with an American flag and military-related banners displayed overhead. The image captures a workforce pausing from production to pose with the pallet of supplies they prepared for the relief effort.
Panama was struck by a major earthquake on Oct. 9, causing damage to homes, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure. The Pan American Health Organization reported that health facilities across multiple provinces were affected, with some experiencing structural damage, evacuations or interruptions to essential services in the days after the quake.
The need remains extensive. UNICEF estimated that approximately 38,000 people, including 8,300 children, needed humanitarian assistance following the earthquake. Protective gloves are a basic but essential supply for medical care, cleanup work and recovery operations in damaged communities, where responders handle debris and treat injuries in difficult conditions.
The announcement did not specify the monetary value of the gloves, the shipping arrangements or when the supplies are expected to reach Panama. Even so, the donation adds a Chillicothe contribution to an international relief effort, and it highlights the role a single Ohio facility and its employees can play when disaster strikes far from home.