Floods have ravaged several states across the nation, from Minnesota and Wisconsin to West Virginia. Florida has been buffeted by tropical storms. Devastating wildfires have burned thousands of acres in Colorado. Much of the nation has been hit by a record breaking heat wave, which has sent temperatures to about 100 degrees in many states.
Hundreds of thousands of people are without electricity throughout much of the Eastern part of the United States. As many as 650,000 people in West Virginia were without power following high winds.
"Many of our food banks are in the midst of Herculean efforts to provide food and water to thousands of people who have been displaced by storms, fires and flooding throughout the US. The very good news is that our network has rallied to help food banks in affected areas by providing them with food, water and trained staff," says Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "But more help is needed. We urge anyone and everyone who can help their neighbors to go to our Websitewww.feedingamerica.orgto make a contribution, no matter how large or small."
Feeding America receives ongoing support for disaster relief efforts from Wal-Mart, Kellogg's, Americares, Allstate and Abbott.
The Feeding America site will direct interested donors to their local food bank, or to any food banks they specifically want to help.
Feeding America 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, Feeding America has taken an active role in recovery efforts following major disasters and is a member of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD).
