FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Roadrunner Food Bank

CONTACT: Sonya Warwick

Direct: 505-349-8682

Cell: 505-269-4775

FOOD BANK REACHES OUT TO HELP SISTER FOOD BANKS

Monetary Donations and Non-perishable Items Being Sought

Albuquerque, NM - September 15, 2008 – Sister food banks in Texas and Louisiana have told Roadrunner Food Bank they are in need of funds and food to provide to evacuees and those who will eventually return to their community. Several have said they have exhausted their pre-stage disaster products already and one has said they will likely deplete the remaining $900,000 set aside for disaster relief by the end of this week.  Several food banks in Texas are running on generator support and communicating only by cell-phone.  The food bank in San Antonio reported that they received 500 calls in one hour with people contacting them for food.  It is anticipated that the one million people who have already been evacuated will need long-term support.  Power issues are expected to affect more than 22 counties in Texas which may make it difficult for evacuees to return home.

As the New Mexico member of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), Roadrunner is seeking monetary donations and food donations to provide to states impacted by Hurricane Ike.  Feeding America is the largest domestic hunger-relief agency and will provide assistance to foods banks in the Gulf Coast area in need of aid through its member food banks across the United States.

Melody Wattenbarger, executive director at Roadrunner Food Bank said, “Our sister food banks will need as much assistance as we can give them now and in the weeks to follow.  Flooding will displace many residents for long periods of time and food banks in the Gulf Coast area already have depleted food stores.  They are counting on many food banks in the US like us to give additional assistance.  We hope our community can step forward to help with relief efforts.  We are seeking funds and food to assist them during this very stressful time.”

Wattenbarger continued, “Monetary donations are the quickest way we can respond to help our sister food banks provide food to evacuees.  Funds raised will support the affected Texas and Louisiana area food banks and help maintain or resume operations to feed the hungry in their communities.  100 percent of the funds given to Roadrunner Food Bank in support of relief efforts will be sent to Feeding America to help our sister foods banks.”

On Friday, the American Red Cross contacted Roadrunner Food Bank to provide Emergency Food Boxes to approximately seven evacuees that have arrived here in Albuquerque. These food boxes contain enough food to feed a family of four for approximately 2-3 days. Wattenbarger said, “If more evacuees arrive in New Mexico, we will be prepared to work with sheltering agencies to provide them access to food.”

Donations to support food banks in the hurricane’s path can be made to Roadrunner Food Bank.  Individuals can call us at 505-349-8909 or give on-line at www.rrfb.org.  Checks should be made payable to Roadrunner Food Bank.  In the memo section, please indicate Hurricane Relief.

Non-perishable donations that are needed to support relief efforts include:

• Heat and eat foods

• Water – bottled drinking water (no glass containers)

• Meal replacement beverages such as Ensure

• Shelf stable juice, milk and sports beverages

• Canned foods (canned meats, vegetables, fruits, soups)

• Single serving snacks: cereal bars, peanut butter, pop tarts, etc.

Please bring non-perishable donations directly to Roadrunner Food Bank.  Please note we are only able to accept donated items listed above.  Please do not bring donations of clothing to the Food Bank, and call us in advance to find out if we can accept a particular item you may wish to donate.

Roadrunner Food Bank

2645 Baylor Drive SE

Albuquerque, NM 87106

Volunteers

If you are interested in coming to Roadrunner Food Bank to volunteer in support of relief efforts, please contact us in advance so we can arrange coordinate volunteer support throughout our response.  Please call 505-349-8825 to schedule yourself or your group.

Directions to Roadrunner Food Bank

From Yale and Gibson, turn south on Yale.  Turn at the Second Left which is Renard (at the Waffle House).  The road forks immediately, stay to the right.  This street is Baylor.  Proceed until the street ends at the cul-de-sac.  Turn left at the bus company and proceed through the gate.  Entrance to the building is on the west side of the facility.

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Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico is New Mexico’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to ending hunger.  Through its statewide network of 600 partner agencies and six regional food banks, Roadrunner Food Bank distributes more than 16 million pounds of food annually to approximately 240,000 New Mexicans in need.  Every dollar donated yields $12 worth of food.  Roadrunner Food Bank is the only New Mexico member of America’s Second Harvest—the Nation’s Food Bank Network.  In the 28 years since it was founded, Roadrunner Food Bank has distributed more than 165 million pounds of food statewide.  For more information about Roadrunner Food Bank and its programs visit www.rrfb.org