One Month Later: Challenge of Feeding Hurricane Victims Continues
DISASTER PRESS RELEASE
America's Second Harvest Network food banks ready to meet the need of returning families
CHICAGO --- September 28, 2005 --- One month after Hurricane Katrina roared upon the shores of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, tens of thousands of former residents remain unsure about their future – many not knowing where they will find their next meal. The food banks and food-rescue organizations in the America’s Second Harvest Network have been working around the clock for weeks to meet the needs of communities affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, moving millions of pounds of food at record-setting levels.
Since August 29, the America’s Second Harvest Network has dispatched nearly 1,100 truckloads filled with food and grocery products – ready-to-ship pallets including hand-held snacks such as granola and energy bars, breakfast bars, beefy jerky, peanut butter, canned meals such as hearty soups, stews, chili, pasta, plates, bowls, cups and utensils, bleach, disinfecting household cleaning items and diapers. This amounts to a staggering 34.3 million pounds of product, which equates to nearly 28 million meals.
“America is continuing to respond to our call to help people caught in the grip of crisis,” said Robert Forney, President and Chief Executive Officer of America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network. “But our recovery work for these communities throughout the Gulf region is only just beginning. It will take months of coordination with other relief organizations and federal agencies to best serve those affected.”
Over the next few days, signs of life will begin returning to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, after temporarily moving its operations to a warehouse in Baker, Louisiana. The food bank, which prior to the hurricanes served agencies that fed more than 40,000 people each day, is preparing its warehouse and restocking supplies as residents begin their return to parrishes throughout the food bank’s service area.
America’s Second Harvest estimates that their response and recovery efforts
for the hurricanes will require millions of dollars in additional financial
donations, beyond what has already been collected or pledged. “We believe
that in addition to continued in-kind support from our corporate donors, we will
need a total of $21 million for expenses solely related to the devastation left
by Hurricane Katrina,” added Forney. Since August 29, the organization has
seen $19.1 in donations, with $18 million earmarked specifically for Katrina
relief and recovery.
On September 24, America’s Second Harvest
established the Hurricane Relief Fund. Donations to this fund allow the
Network to respond to Hurricane Rita and future hurricanes through June 30,
2006. Additionally, it will fund any costs not currently anticipated that
become part of our relief and recovery effort for Hurricane Katrina. Funds
pledged or collected to date for Hurricane Katrina or those already earmarked
for the Katrina relief and recovery operation will be used specifically to that
end.
“We will continue to directly use 100% of all donations to both the Hurricane Katrina Fund and the Hurricane Response Fund on our disaster relief and recovery support activities,” said Forney.
America’s Second Harvest remains in continued need of financial donations to provide food and grocery products to those affected by the hurricanes. To make a financial donation that will assist the America’s Second Harvest Network in its hurricane relief and recovery efforts, visit www.secondharvest.org or call 877-817-2307. 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.
Contact:
Ross Fraser
rfraser@secondharvest.org
Office: 312/263-2303,
x121
Cell: 312/307-8470
