Gulf Coast Food Banks Caught in Peril
America's Second Harvest Network issues national plea for financial assistance for Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief
Special note to assignment desk editors: Leading food bank executives from Gulf Coast states are available for phone interviews to discuss their involvement in the relief effort. Please contact Phil Zepeda at 312-622-2640.
CHICAGO --- August 29, 2005 --- With Hurricane Katrina pummeling communities across the central Gulf Coast and sending tens of thousands of residents seeking higher ground inland, the America's Second Harvest national Network of food banks and food-rescue organizations have moved into disaster response mode to help sister food banks directly impacted by the wrath of the ferocious storm.
America's Second Harvest—The Nation's Food Bank Network is in need of food and funds to respond to Hurricane Katrina in states impacted by the disaster including Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Currently, it is expected at least ten food banks covering three states and hundreds of their local food pantries and emergency shelters will be hit by the Katrina's force over the next 36 hours.
"Our Network needs funds to secure additional warehouse space, to transport food to victims and assist our Member food banks in resuming and maintaining operations," said Robert Forney, President and CEO of America's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network. "We expect that our disaster-relief role in affected areas will last weeks if not months."
Financial donations from the public and the corporate community are urged to help with the relief effort. Funds raised will go directly to helping Network food banks maintain or resume operations during this critical time. "The fastest way people can help is by making a financial contribution," said Forney.
To make a financial donation which will directly assist America's Second Harvest Members in affected areas, visit www.secondharvest.org or call 800-771-2303. To make a financial donation directly to your local America's Second Harvest Network Member, visit www.secondharvest.org and enter your ZIP code on the right side of the web page.
In response to Hurricane Dennis earlier this year, the America's Second Harvest Network provided more than 480,000 pounds of grocery products to the most affected areas. During the 2004 hurricanes that hit the Southeast, Network food banks distribute more than 7 million pounds of food and beverage product.
Just last month, America's Second Harvest signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to formalize a partnership in planning for and responding to disasters. The national hunger relief charity became involved in disaster relief during the Hurricane Hugo relief effort in 1989 which required substantial feeding and logistical resources to feed the thousands of people displaced due to the killer storm.
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:
Phil Zepeda
Office: 312-263-2303, ext.
184
Cell: 312-622-2640
