Volume 7 , Issue 35

UPDATE: America's Second Harvest Update...

One Charity that is definitely at the top of the list on Charity Navigator website is America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network

o America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network is taking an unprecedented leadership role in helping the nation recover in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The storm's deadly impact has been felt in communities across the nation, with many individuals contacting their local food bank to find a way to assist with relief efforts.

o Our Network is in need of funds for our Network food banks to respond to Hurricane Katrina in states impacted by the disaster including Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Additionally, food banks in six surrounding states (Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas) are receiving Network aid as they assist evacuee populations.

o As of close of business on Friday, September 2, more than 3 million pounds of food and grocery product has been secured for disaster relief efforts. This equates to more than 99 truckloads. Additionally, 73 truckloads will move critical food and grocery supplies over the next few days to the affected areas. Trucks are being directed to available space in America's Second Harvest Network Member warehouses and other facilities for further distribution.

o The Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana is being established in a vacant Wal-Mart warehouse with 86,000 sq. ft. of space in Baker, Louisiana. On Friday, ten truckloads carrying an estimated 300,000 pounds of food and grocery products were directed to disaster relief sites in and around New Orleans. The food bank's original home in New Orleans remains inaccessible due to flood waters. An additional 40,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space was secured in Alexandria, Louisiana and will be operational this weekend.

o The America's Second Harvest national office is amassing and shipping donated truckloads of food and grocery products to facilities along the Gulf Coast. The logistics team is soliciting transportation in hopes of getting these supplies to the affected areas at greatly-reduced or no cost to our Network.

o This is our initial response to Hurricane Katrina's landfall on the Gulf coastline. We expect to be in emergency recovery mode for many months.

o 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 also continue to experience electrical outages. This means that in many communities, refrigerators and freezers in shelters, food banks, and standing homes may continue to be out of service.

o The following food banks in the area have been in operation before and since Hurricane Katrina:
 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
 Our Daily Bread - SDO, Baton Rouge, LA

o More than 30 Network Members in eight states surrounding the Gulf Coast are responding to the increased need as evacuees arrive in their cities. In Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Louisiana, 3,300 local pantries and feeding centers are feeling the strain as the number of people asking for assistance increases. More than 110,000 evacuees have already been relocated to long-term tent cities, civic - centers, fairgrounds, shelters, hotels, motels, and the homes of friends and families across the south. Hundreds of thousands more will be relocated in the coming days. The following is a growing list of Network Members who are providing the additional assistance necessary to help the hundreds of thousands of evacuees and are therefore also considered affected.

Alabama
Food Bank of North Alabama - Huntsville
The United Way Community Food Bank - Birmingham
West Alabama Food Bank -SDO- Tuscaloosa
Food Bank of Northwest Alabama - Muscle Shoals
Food Bank of East Alabama - Auburn
Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank- Dothan
Selma Area Food Bank - Selma

Arkansas
Arkansas Food Bank Network - Little Rock

Florida
The Harry Chapin Food Bank - Ft. Myers
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida - Orlando

Georgia
America's Second Harvest of Southeast Georgia - Valdosta
Atlanta Community Food Bank - Atlanta
Food Bank of Northeast Georgia - Athens
The Food Bank of Southwest Georgia- SDO- Albany
Second Harvest Food Bank of the Chattahoochee Valley - Columbus
Action, Inc. Full-Plate Program - Athens

Louisiana
Food Bank of Central Louisiana - Alexandria
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank - Baton Rouge
Northwest Louisiana Food Bank- Shreveport

Mississippi
South Central MS Food Bank- Brookhaven

Tennessee
The Memphis Food Bank - Memphis
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee- Nashville
Nashville's Table - Nashville

Texas
End Hunger Network- Houston
The Houston Food Bank- Houston
San Antonio Food Bank - San Antonio Tarrant Area Food Bank - Ft. Worth East Texas Food Bank - Tyler
Brazos Food Bank - Bryan

We are also providing disaster assistance to these food banks to alleviate the strain of the increased need in their communities.

o During disasters when many people are without shelter, clean water or food, it's important to provide appropriate products for immediate relief for the victims (for instance, foods that don't require can openers or utensils, cooking, refrigeration, freezing, or multiple ingredients. With donated funds, we cover costs directly related to shipping and transporting food and grocery items to disaster relief warehouses or operating food banks involved in the relief effort. From there, disaster relief partners work with the food bank to distribute food to where it's needed most.

o Additionally, funds allow us to purchase thousands of products on ready-to-ship pallets such as bottled water, hand-held snacks such as granola and energy bars, breakfast bars, beefy jerky, peanut butter, canned meals such as hearty soups, stews, chili, and/or pasta, plates, bowls, cups and utensils, bleach, disinfecting household cleaning items and diapers.

o We encourage people to contact their local food banks to see how they can volunteer their time to help in their own community. Please remember donating funds is recommended over food drives; check with your local America's Second Harvest Network Member to find out the best ways to help locally.

o FEMA now has a live toll-free number. Please direct people looking to volunteer and/or donate random items that cannot be accepted by food banks, (clothing or mattresses) to call 1-800-440-6728.

o America's Second Harvest is in the initial stages of disaster relief efforts. It is unclear how much money will be needed to address the needs of our organization. The very preliminary estimate of the cost of America's Second Harvest disaster relief - estimated at $2 million on August 31 - will substantially increase as our food securing and distribution activities continue throughout the coming months.

The Need

o The America's Second Harvest Network needs funds to secure additional warehouse space to transport food to victims and to assist our Member food banks in resuming and maintaining operations.

o 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 who need it the most.

o Right now, the contributions that will fill the needs most effectively are:
- Money - We are in direct contact with affected members in eight states and can use our combined power to provide more food for less. Please visit our web site at www.secondharvest.org or call 800-344-8070 to make a donation.

Although well-intentioned, unsolicited donations of food and products acquired through food drives have additional costs and can actually hinder the relief efforts. The expense and energy required to receive, clean, sort and package goods and ensure the quality of items donated by individuals is very high.

- Water - In addition to the hundreds of shelters needing water for their evacuees, the fresh water supply in the entire city of New Orleans is possibly contaminated by natural gas, chemicals, and petroleum from submerged cars.

- Corporate Product Donations - Appropriate items include: bottled water, hand-held snacks such as granola and energy bars, breakfast bars, beefy jerky, peanut butter, canned meals such as hearty soups, stews, chili, and/or pasta, plates, bowls, cups, and utensils, bleach, disinfecting household cleaning items, and diapers.

- Transportation - The cost to transport disaster relief supplies will be enormous.   |  View or Add Comments (1 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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