America's Second Harvest Helps Feed Hurricane Victims

CHICAGO --- July 12, 2005 --- With Hurricane Dennis barreling through the Gulf of Mexico, tens of thousand of coastal residents have fled their homes. Along with many other national organizations already responding to the disaster, food banks and food-rescue organizations in the America's Second Harvest Network have shifted into "disaster mode," getting ready for the first of what is expected to be a violent hurricane season. 

America's Second Harvest Network food banks in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia stand ready to help thousands of agencies who will then, in turn, help individuals and families throughout the affected areas. Preliminary reports indicate that Dennis caused significant damage to areas that had barely recovered from Hurricane Ivan just 10 months ago.

"Our goal is to help food pantries and relief organizations that are helping those most affected by Hurricane Dennis," said David Reaney, Executive Director of the Bay Area Food Bank, a retired Army Colonel who handles relief much like a military operation. "We're in the process identifying critical need areas and then distributing food, other grocery products and water to emergency shelters, food pantries and soup kitchens. In next day or so we’ll be receiving supplies from other network food banks to reinforce our effort".

Dennis hit land near the Pace, Florida branch of the Bay Area Food Bank. Power could be out in this area for at least a week. All perishable foods were removed from the Pace facility and are being stored at the Bay Area Food Bank’s main facility in Theodore, Alabama.

Storms and flooding also hit South Georgia, where more than 21, 000 evacuees from Florida were encamped. Valdosta's food bank, America's Second Harvest of South Georgia, Inc., says that their supplies are quickly dwindling. The Tallahassee Food Bank, America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Inc., worked throughout the weekend, supplying their agencies and the Red Cross with food and grocery products. 

The national office of America's Second Harvest will help affected food banks by helping them secure more food for disaster relief efforts and assist with the management of distribution of food.

Funds are needed to help offset the costs of transporting food and grocery products to all of the areas affected by Hurricane Dennis. To locate your local America's Second Harvest Network Member or to find out how you can help your local food banks and food-rescue organizations affected by these and other disasters, visit www.secondharvest.org.

America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network is the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization with a Network of more than 200 regional member food banks and food - rescue programs serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The America's Second Harvest Network secures and distributes nearly two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. The America's Second Harvest Network supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating more than 94,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. Last year, the America's Second Harvest Network provided food assistance to more than 23 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including more than nine million children and nearly three million seniors. For more on America's Second Harvest, please visit www.secondharvest.org.

Contact:
Ross Fraser
Media Relations Manager
Office: 312-263-2303 (Ext.127)
Cell: (312) 307-8470