Feeding America Food Banks throughout the Southeast Prepare for More Major Storms as Relief Efforts Continue from Recent Devastation CHICAGO, Sept. 7
CHICAGO, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As millions of Gulf Coast
residents begin returning home, following Hurricane Gustav, damage from
Tropical Storm Hanna is being assessed, and Feeding America (formerly named
America's Second Harvest) is making plans to respond to two additional
storms, Ike and Josephine with supplies of emergency food and water.
Significantly more help will be needed to meet the needs of everyone who
has been or may be affected by these four storms. Feeding America is seeking
at least $1 million in contributions to help fund these efforts. The dollars
needed are expected to go much higher as the hurricane season progresses.
Feeding America has dispatched more than 85 truckloads of food and water
throughout the Southeast to assist in relief efforts for these four storms.
These provisions will supplement the millions of pounds of food, water and
supplies that have already been pre-staged in these areas at Feeding America
food banks. At least 32 members of the Feeding America network are involved
the current relief efforts.
"We need every American to help us supply emergency food to the thousands
of Americans whose lives are being turned upside down by these storms. Only
$1 donated to Feeding America will help us provide $30 worth of food and
groceries, so every dollar counts," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of
Feeding America. "We're here to help long after these storms will have faded
from the headlines."
Feeding America has already provided meals, water and other supplies to
thousands of evacuees and disaster relief workers in the wake of Hurricane
Gustav. Complicating matters is the high state of food insecurity and poverty
in the states slammed by the Hurricane Gustav. Mississippi and Louisiana have
the highest poverty and unemployment rates in the country. Both states have
high rates of food insecurity - meaning that parents, many of whom are the
working poor, often have difficulty providing their children with adequate
amounts of nutritious food.
The added strain of dealing with disaster relief only places these
families into a greater tailspin, draining their energy and stealing their
hope.
The storms will leave significant numbers of people without power. They
will return to homes without power, and to refrigerators full of spoiled food.
Many will be unable to cook and will need to have access to food that requires
minimal preparation. Many local grocery stores are not yet fully operational.
The Feeding America network has been active throughout this hurricane
season, responding to Hurricanes Dolly and Faye earlier this year. In 2005,
Feeding America launched an enormous effort after Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma
and Rita battered the Gulf Coast. More than 6.5 million people sought
emergency food assistance from the Feeding America network; more than 4
million of those individuals had to rely on a food bank for the first time.
"Exploding demand caused by the slumping economy and record-high food and
fuel costs is straining many of our food banks. In the past, Feeding America
had larger reserves of food to rush to people in need during times of
disaster, but with rising food and fuel costs, our food banks are seeing
double-digit increases in families seeking help, even before the storms," said
Escarra, "Meeting their need has left us with fewer resources to provide to
those affected by the current and coming storms."
The Feeding America network supports disaster relief and recovery in
communities by distributing assistance through the more than 63,000 local
agencies that it supports on a daily basis. Feeding America also provides
immediate relief through emergency feeding centers.
About Feeding America (formerly named America's Second Harvest - The
Nation's Food Bank Network)
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel
to survive and even thrive. As the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief
charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans
each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the
entire United States, more than 200 member food banks operate 63,000 agencies
that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can
fight hunger in your community and across the country, go to
www.feedingamerica.org .
SOURCE Feeding America
