Feeding America Partner Support Expedites Disaster Relief and Recovery Efforts

Feeding America partnerships with AmeriCares and Clorox result in quick relief for communities that have been impacted by wildfires, tornadoes, flooding this spring

CHICAGO, May 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – Feeding America and The Clorox Company have partnered to provide bleach and cleaning supplies to communities hit by recent flooding in Eastern Kentucky and South Georgia. As waters recede in flooded areas, individuals and families are beginning the arduous task of cleaning out their flood-damaged homes. Cleaning supplies and bleach from Clorox have been distributed through Feeding America Members in Lexington, Kentucky; Fargo, North Dakota; and Valdosta, Georgia.

“As our food bank continues to support flood recovery efforts in communities throughout Eastern Kentucky, we are reminded that flood clean-up is an important part of the recovery process,” said Marian Guinn, CEO of God’s Pantry Food Bank. “Our Member Agencies throughout the region provide food and grocery products to address hunger on a daily basis and have also played an important role with disaster relief following the recent floods, including the provision of cleaning supplies that are essential to community restoration. We are very grateful for Clorox Company’s support as our recovery efforts.”

AmeriCares, an international relief organization, has partnered with Feeding America to support domestic disaster relief efforts in recent years. “The relief supplies that AmeriCares provides in the immediate aftermath of disasters and their support of our preparedness initiatives has allowed Feeding America to expedite much needed assistance for those in need. AmeriCares has also supported our strategy to pre-position water and other emergency supplies in strategic locations throughout the nation,” said Patrick Crawford, Director of Disaster Services for Feeding America.

Supplies were staged at food banks in Kansas City, Missouri; Orange County, California; and Valdosta, Georgia and have been deployed to supplement the assistance provided by local Food Banks following disaster responses this spring.

Feeding America provided more than 25.6 million pounds of food and grocery products for disaster relief in support of its food banks in 2008. Much of this assistance was in response to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit www.feedingamerica.org.

SOURCE Feeding America