Food Banks Need Major Financial Support for Katrina

DISASTER NEWS RELEASE                             

 

Contact:
PHIL ZEPEDA
Office: 312-263-2303 (184)
Cell: 312-622-2640

 

CHICAGO --- August 31, 2005 --- America's Second Harvest—The Nation's Food Bank Network is in need of funds to respond to Hurricane Katrina in states impacted by the disaster including Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.

 

The America's Second Harvest Network of food banks and food-rescue organizations is in the initial stages of disaster relief efforts.  It is unclear of how much money will be needed to address the needs of our organization.  A preliminary estimate as of August 31 indicates that at least $2 million will be required to meet the direct disaster-relief-related expenses of the organization.  This amount is expected to increase significantly as our food securing and distribution activities continue.

"We expect to be in emergency mode for several weeks and possibly even months," said Robert Forney, President and CEO of America's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network.  "We have been the recipients of so much national generosity and thank those who have supported our mission to feed hungry people in need."

Second Harvester's Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana sustained minor external damage but is currently inaccessible.  This food bank regularly served more that 40,000 people each week. It will temporarily operate near Baton Rouge to assist hundreds of thousands of additional hurricane victims.   Additionally, the following food banks were affected by Katrina but are now back in operation: The Daily Bread Food Bank, Miami, FL; The Bay Area Food Bank, Theodore, AL; Mississippi Food Network, Jackson, MS; The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Baton Rouge, LA; and Our Daily Bread – SDO, Baton Rouge, LA.

Communication with contacts in the affected areas is spotty, particularly in New Orleans where phone and power lines and cell towers have been downed.  Baton Rouge, Biloxi and Jackson are also experiencing widespread electrical outages.  This means that in many communities, refrigerators and freezers in shelters, food banks, and standing homes will be out of service.  Additionally, communities outside of the direct impact area are seeing growing numbers of hurricane refugees that need disaster relief assistance.

AMERICA'S SECOND HARVEST

As of close of business on Wednesday, August 31, more than one million pounds of food and grocery product has been secured for disaster relief efforts, most of this from major corporate donors.  This equates to more than 28 truckloads.  Fundraising activities are recommended over food drives because of the logistical challenges of sorting, shipping and distributing collected items.

An America's Second Harvest Emergency Operations Center is currently being established in a vacant Wal-Mart less than 20 miles from the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Staff there will be working to gather equipment, telecommunications, office furniture, and everything else needed to get operations up and running later this week.

The America's Second Harvest national office is coordinating efforts to amass donations of food and water and emergency supplies to facilities in the Gulf Coast.  The logistics team is soliciting transportation in hopes of getting these supplies to the affected areas at reduced or no cost to our Network.

Please note that 100% of donations collected for Hurricane Katrina will be directly used to support disaster-relief activities and assist our food banks in providing food to the people in need. America's Second Harvest needs financial donations to maintain a strong disaster response program.  To make a financial donation which will directly assist America's Second Harvest Network Members in affected areas, visit www.secondharvest.org or call 800-344-8070.    To make a financial donation directly to your local America's Second Harvest Network Member, visit www.secondharvest.org to locate the food bank serving your area.

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.

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