In the aftermath of the megastorm Hurricane Sandy’s rampage throughout the east coast of the United States, Mercedes-Benz USA is donating $1 million to the American Red Cross to aid in the relief efforts in the disaster-affected areas.

“The devastation that Hurricane Sandy left behind will be felt for a long time in the communities in which we live and work,” said MBUSA President and CEO Steve Cannon. “It’s our hope that this donation can provide some small measure of relief for the families and businesses affected as the recovery and rebuilding begins.”

MBUSA’s HQ is located in Montvale, New Jersey, one of the states in the path of Hurricane Sandy. There are also some 80-plus dealerships along the US Northeast.

Aside from the $1 million pledge, MBUSA is also encouraging its employees to do some volunteer work within their own communities, and the company will allow them to take time off (at least for those who qualify). There’s also a “matching-gifts program” to foster individual donations from employees.