America's Second Harvest Continues to Support Flood Recovery Efforts in Missouri
Partnerships with Clorox, Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation, and Target help Nation’s Food Bank Network provide Missouri communities with flood clean-up and recovery efforts
CHICAGO --- April 7, 2008 --- America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network is continuing its efforts to secure and transport necessary food and grocery products to communities affected by recent flooding in Missouri. As waters recede, individuals and families are beginning the arduous task of cleaning out their flood damaged homes. Cleaning supplies such as bleach are critical to this effort and are being distributed through two America’s Second Harvest Members: the Bootheel Food Bank in Cape Girardeau and the St. Louis Area Food Bank in St. Louis.
“As our Network Members in Missouri, and across the Midwest, continue to support flood recovery efforts, we are reminded that clean-up is an important part of the recovery process,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network. “Our food banks throughout the affected region are working closely with state and local emergency management agencies, as well as non-governmental partners in disaster relief and local social service agency partners, to identify the need for not only food, but cleaning supplies, diapers and personal care products to help those affected.”
Generous contributions from partners such as The Clorox Company, the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation, the charitable foundation of Dunkin’ Brands and independent Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins franchisees, and Target Corporation, have been important to the Network’s Disaster Services Program in recent years. Corporate support of America’s Second Harvest preparedness initiatives has allowed the Network to pre-position emergency food and cleaning products essential to community restoration in strategically designated locations throughout the nation. Some of this staged product, located at the St. Louis Area Food Bank, will supplement the assistance of our food banks in the affected areas.
The America’s Second Harvest Network first became involved in disaster relief in 1989 following Hurricane Hugo and the Loma Pieta earthquake that struck San Francisco and the Central California Coast. Since then, The America's Second Harvest Network has taken an active role in recovery efforts following major disasters and is a member of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD).
America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network, is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the country with a Network of more than 200 Member food banks and food-rescue organizations serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The America's Second Harvest Network secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually; and 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 25 million hungry people in the United States, including 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors. For more information, please visit www.secondharvest.org.
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Contact:
Ross Fraser
Office: 312-641-6422
