America's Second Harvest Provides Disaster Supplies to Communities

along Texas and Louisiana Coasts



    CHICAGO, Aug. 6 /EMWNews/ -- America's Second

Harvest--The Nation's Food Bank Network is rallying its resources to rush

food and grocery products to member food banks serving areas of Louisiana

and Texas that were hit by Tropical Storm Edouard yesterday, while

continuing to support the disaster relief efforts of Food Bank of the Rio

Grande Valley (FBRGV), which is still recovering from Hurricane Dolly.



    The assistance provided by America's Second Harvest addressed much of

the initial disaster needs in the area hit by Hurricane Dolly and served by

the FBRGV, but additional help is needed. The Texas Food Bank Network has

mobilized Members and in-state partners to help address the ongoing needs

in the Rio Grande Valley, an area with an extremely high rate of food

insecurity.



    "Normally, our agencies serve about 517 meals per day in any given

week, whereas they are now serving 3,255 meals per day," said Terri Drefke,

executive director of the FBRGV. "The number of families we serve has

increased significantly; our agencies are reporting that pantry client

numbers have doubled. Anyone wishing to donate time, money, or food can

learn more by going online at http://www.foodbankrgv.com and clicking on the

Disaster Relief Link for details."



    Those in need of food assistance should call the Food Bank RGV at

956-682-8101. Callers are asked to be patient, as Food Bank RGV continues

to experience high call volumes. Individuals needing other services, not

involving hunger relief, may call the 2-1-1 helpline.



    Monetary donations may be made at H-E-B grocery store checkout stands

with Help End Hunger coupons. Funds raised by the annual Food Bank RGV

Empty Bowls Luncheon and Silent Auction will also be targeted for hunger

and disaster relief. The fundraiser is scheduled for Thursday, September 4

from 11 am - 2 pm at the Pharr International Convention Center at 3000 N.

Cage in Pharr, TX. The RGV Empty Bowls title sponsor is Capital One Bank,

which has established a disaster relief fund on behalf of the food bank

known as the "Hunger and Disaster Relief Fund for the Rio Grande Valley,

Texas."



    America's Second Harvest supported the FBRGV and other food banks along

the South Texas Coast during the last two weeks by providing more than

145,000 bottles of water, 20,736 ready-to-eat meals, and 20,000 pounds of

mixed snacks to address many of the immediate needs following Hurricane

Dolly. Americares, Nestle Waters, and Kraft Foods provided much of the

water and snack items.



    As people began returning to their homes and power was restored,

subsequent relief supplies have targeted the replacement of basic staples

that may have been lost or in short supply. Approximately 700 emergency

family boxes containing canned foods, peanut butter, and other pantry

starter items, have been sent to supplement local efforts.



    In addition to emergency family food boxes, America's Second Harvest

was able to provide 9,120 ZonePerfect nutrition bars, and 10,440 cans of

PediaSure, a nutritional formula drink, which was previously donated by

Abbott to the Network's disaster food reserves.



    The Network stages supplies throughout the country so that they will be

readily accessible and quickly moved in the event of a disaster.



    As Tropical Storm Edouard headed to landfall, America's Second Harvest

began moving truckloads of supplies, typically associated with the initial

stage of disaster relief, to member food banks near the Texas and Louisiana

border. This initial push of supplies -- including 20,736 heater meals,

72,576 bottles of water, and 20,000 pounds of mixed snacks -- will provide

some basic assistance until the full effects of the storm can be assessed

by local officials. The ready-to-eat meals and snack foods are ideal for

supporting emergency sheltering operations and for providing food that does

not require access to power or water in homes.



    During the past year, America's Second Harvest has invested significant

time and resources to build its disaster relief capabilities. "We have been

focused on creating and training national disaster teams to support our

food banks, working with corporate donors supporting our disaster relief

operations, and staging resources allowing us to help immediately following

major disasters," said Bill McGowan, COO of America's Second Harvest. "The

experience of our Members and our Network tells us that we need to be ready

to respond quickly to hunger in our communities -- regardless of the

cause."



    Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation, Target Corporation and Kellogg's

Corporate Citizenship Fund have been important sponsors of disaster

preparedness initiatives in recent years.



    "The support of these key corporate sponsors has allowed the America's

Second Harvest Network to pre-position emergency food products in

strategically designated locations throughout the nation," said Vicki

Escarra, President and CEO of America's Second Harvest. "Our Network

regularly cycles this inventory prior to expiration, thereby insuring that

any staged supplies not used for disaster relief in a given year can still

help to meet the daily hunger challenges faced by so many communities. We

recognize that individuals run the risk of falling into a chronic, hunger

insecure situation as they attempt to recover from a nature disaster and we

want to make sure individuals, families, and communities can bounce back

from any set back that Mother Nature delivers."