FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Roadrunner Food Bank

CONTACT: Sonya Warwick

Direct: 505-349-8682

Cell: 505-269-4775

HURRICANE RESPONSE URGENTLY NEEDED FROM COMMUNITY

Monetary Donations and Non-perishable Items Being Sought

Albuquerque, NM - September 19, 2008 – Roadrunner Food Bank is responding to food banks in the Gulf area and encouraging our community to step forward and host fund and food drives.  Our national organization Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest) has reported a human crisis.  There are hundreds of thousands still in shelters and our sister food banks are reporting to us that their available food supplies are running out.  One food bank reported that the average daily amount of food they distribute is 125,000 pounds of food, and as of today, they are giving out 500,000 pounds of food a day (equivalent to 17 semi-truckloads) in response to those who need food.

Our national hunger relief organization, Feeding America, estimates the Gulf region will need 400 truckloads of food to help the one million displaced by the hurricane.  Food banks reported they are experiencing high volumes of calls of food requests in the Gulf region.  One food bank had 500 calls in one hour and another reported having 1,000 people show up to their food bank in need of food.

Disaster funds have been exhausted in the Gulf region.  Melody Wattenbarger, executive director said, “This is a dire situation.  In the next few weeks, they will need 7 million pounds of food.  Even though the national media has diverted its attention away from the needs in the Gulf area, people are still suffering and need help.  The financial problems in the country have taken the media limelight, but we need to continue providing aid.  We desperately need the community to step forward and host large scale food and fund drives as soon as possible.”

Roadrunner is seeking monetary donations and food donations to provide to food banks impacted by Hurricane Ike.  One hundred percent of any monetary donation given to Roadrunner Food Bank and directed toward Hurricane Relief will be sent to the area.  All food collected for Hurricane Relief will be coordinated with our national organization (Feeding America) to supply food to food banks in the area that have little food available.

Wattenbarger continued, “We are imploring our community to give either monetary funds or food.  Hundreds of thousands in the Gulf need our help.  Please come forward and host a funds or food drive.”

Checks to support Hurricane Relief can be made to Roadrunner Food Bank.  In the memo section, please indicate Hurricane Relief.  Donors can call us to make a monetary donation via telephone at 505-349-8909  Gifts can also be made on-line at www.rrfb.org.

Non-perishable donations needed to support relief efforts include:

• Pop-top, ready to eat foods

• Granola bars, Power bars, cereal bars

• Meal replacement beverages

• Canned  meats (tuna, chicken, beef, salmon, etc)

• Canned vegetables

• Canned fruit

• Peanut butter/Jelly

• Canned soups, and chili (pop-tops please)

• Water – bottled drinking water (no glass containers)

• Shelf stable juice, milk and sports beverages

• Baby needs (diapers, formula, baby bottles)

• Personal Hygiene (toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, etc.)

• Paper products (toilet paper, napkins, plates, tissue)

• Cleaning supplies

If you are coordinating a food drive, please call us at 505-349-8682.  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.

Our address

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 coordinate volunteer support throughout our response.  Please call 349.8825 to schedule yourself or your group.

Directions

Get directions to the Food Bank HERE

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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