Feeding Tampa Bay – Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts
| A message from the Feeding Tampa Bay CEO: |
Recovery after a storm is a tricky word to use. For some, it happens in moments, for others it’s a long and difficult process. But, for all who have to or need to recover, having the resources necessary is the only way a return to normalcy can happen. Because of so many of you — our partners, our friends, our neighbors — we’ve been able to step in and help those across our community who’ve been impacted by Helene and Milton. We want to take a moment to say thank you, but also to let you know what we’ve been doing over these last weeks. preparing. In April, we brought in water and MRE’s (meals ready to eat), storing 100+ pallets in advance of any potential storms. Water and MRE’s are the first wave of response after a storm. They provide essential nutrients and hydration where there is no power. It’s critical that we have this foundation built for immediate response. As Helene and then Milton neared us and we understood potential impact, we made sure to fill our warehouse with as many resources as possible. Our new space holds over 4500 pallet spaces – and we were almost at capacity! Along with water and MRE’s, we accumulated cleaning supplies, pet food, diapers, food boxes and other essentials we know to be vital. responding. In the first 24-72 hours after each storm, we brought mass distributions to our hardest hit areas so that they would be accessible to our neighbors. Across our impacted counties, we implemented 100’s of these access points. We also delivered the same supplies to our partners so they could respond in their local communities. recovering. Since the arrival of both storms, we’ve provided, on average, over 400,000 meals a day across Tampa Bay. Our normal distribution is about 200,000 meals per day. The number has doubled given the vulnerability of the population we serve. The average food insecure family has only $600 in savings. This means that unexpected expenses, such as home repairs or lost groceries, can push them to seek our help. Thanks to your donations, we are able to meet the increasing demand and provide critical assistance to these families. Millions of meals have been provided over the past few weeks, and at least as many lives have been touched by your generosity. rebuilding. Our emergency response is winding down, but our work is not over — now, the rebuilding begins. We’ve already begun to shift our focus to restocking pantries and refrigerators; rebuilding our partner network that neighbors rely on and providing vital resources to families navigating life after the hurricane. Our call center and Neighbor Services teams are connecting vital resources to those in need. So many do not know where to turn for help and our goal is to be sure we’re there for them. The impact of a storm is felt in many ways by a family: homes need repairs, cars were totaled due to excessive flooding, wages were lost by those who could not work as businesses closed pre- and post-storm. Rebuilding lives to the extent needed will take months and your support will help us meet these needs as well. We’re here before a storm, during a storm, and after a storm. You, as a supporter of our work, make that possible. Our shared goal is for families to recover. Thank you, on behalf of a grateful community. Thomas Mantz President + CEO |
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