Across the Feeding America network of food banks, people are coming together to provide relief for those in need.
Updated September 8, 2017
Feeding America President Matt Knott returned this week from Texas. He tells us, “the resilience demonstrated in Houston and Beaumont is truly remarkable, and both food bank teams feel a great sense of support … as resources pour into their communities from all across the country.”
As of this week:
- The Houston Food Bank continues to increase its distribution to support the substantial needs of the community. Yesterday alone, they provided 650,000 pounds of groceries to people in need.
- Food banks across Texas have distributed more than 4.3 million pounds of food and supplies and have prepared approximately 33,500 meals for people affected by the Hurricane.
- Southeast Texas Food Bank is distributing more than 100K pounds of food and supplies per day in partnership with other food banks.
- Individual donors, foundations and our partners have donated an extraordinary $2 million to Feeding America to help meet these needs
We are floored by the outpouring of generosity and are grateful to be able to help our neighbors in Texas, and we will continue to work closely with the food banks in Texas to help the people impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
Now, we are also turning our attention to Hurricane Irma — one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. We are working with Banco de Alimentos de Puerto Rico — and luckily, this food bank’s facilities were largely undamaged by the storm. As Hurricane Irma nears the U.S. mainland, food banks across the southeast — including those in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina — are busy preparing to help their communities. Forecasters expect the storm to hit this weekend, and we will have more updates as they come. In the meantime, please consider donating to our disaster relief fund — your gift today helps us know that we will be ready for whatever disaster strikes.
At Feeding America, we are committed to helping our neighbors in need — especially when they need it the most. Tropical Storm Harvey is now being classified as the most extreme rain event in U.S. history. More than 50 inches of rain have overwhelmed communities across Texas and the storm is now moving through Louisiana.
When disasters of this magnitude strike, our goal is to take care of as many people as we can as quickly as we can. And for Feeding America and the nationwide network of food banks that means making sure people have food, water and other basic necessities — so that in the face of such devastation, families don’t have to worry about whether they’ll have enough to eat.
The food banks in Texas immediately mobilized to help their communities. Read on for updates from the ground, and to lend support to an individual food bank, click the food bank’s name.
- Feeding Texas: As an umbrella organization for the Texas food banks, Feeding Texas is overseeing many operations throughout the state — coordinating donations and deliveries to affected food banks and working with other organizations to best serve impacted communities. This kind of organizational support is critical for managing what could become a chaotic time.
- Houston Food Bank: The food bank is open again after being forced to close since this weekend. While the weather is beginning to improve, the water is still high in parts of the city, and swift water rescues and shelter operations are ongoing. The Houston Food Bank is supporting relief efforts 24/7 and is expecting the assistance of 2,000 volunteers today.
- Food Bank of Corpus Christi and Food Bank of the Golden Crescent: These food banks are making disaster boxes — working hard to help their neighbors, despite the fact that the Food Bank of Corpus Christi suffered roof damage in the storm. Additionally, the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley and West Texas Food Bank are lending support with food, drivers, trucks and more.
- San Antonio Food Bank, North Texas Food Bank and Brazos Valley Food Bank: These food banks are providing shelter support for people who have been displaced in partnership with other relief organizations.
- East Texas Food Bank: The food bank is working with The Salvation Army and the Red Cross to provide food to local families in need.
- Southeast Texas Food Bank: As the storm made landfall again, the area that this food bank serves was hit hard and is experiencing serious flooding. The food bank closed due to high water and is inaccessible, but thankfully their facility has not been damaged. Rescues are ongoing in this area.
Feeding America is supporting all the food banks through helping provide meals and relief supplies to Texas. So far we have sent more than 2 million pounds of food and supplies to communities in need, including more than 350,000 pounds of fresh produce. Food banks across the country are also contributing food, vehicles, staff and other resources to the recovery effort. Nearly 900,000 pounds of food, cleaning supplies, water and personal care items are in the process of being shipped to impacted areas from other food banks.
We are keeping our eyes fixed on the recovery effort, coordinating with food banks and partners, and raising support to help provide food and hope to people who have lost everything. We have staff on-the-ground to assess need and provide assistance.
Feeding America’s corporate partners also play a significant role in relief efforts helping to ensure food banks can respond quickly to people impacted by this disaster. Learn more about our disaster relief partners here »
We want to thank all of our supporters, who have shown great compassion by giving generously during this time of crisis. Your kindness is making a meaningful difference in the lives of people across Texas.
