Release: Feeding Florida Network Ready for Storm Relief as Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall

Network of statewide food banks prepared to provide emergency relief.

[Tallahassee, Fla.] – The Feeding Florida network of food banks is prepared to provide statewide relief to Floridians impacted by Hurricane Helene. In partnership with the Division of Emergency Management’s ESF-6 mass feeding team, Feeding Florida and its 9-member food banks have proven they can quickly mobilize to ensure affected communities are provided for.  

“Our Network is strong, and more importantly nimble. When one area of the state is affected, our food banks work as a single unit to provide continuous support from across the state,” said Robin Safley, CEO of Feeding Florida. “Our partnership with the Division of Emergency Management, our federal partner agencies, and our 9 food banks will work toward ensuring aid to every Floridian that needs it.”

Feeding Florida is the state’s largest hunger relief organization and the only food bank network providing ongoing community-based food distribution in all 67 counties of Florida. As the cone of the storm narrows to the Big Bend region and the Nature Coast, our food banks in the southern region of the state are mobilizing staffing support, trucks, and supplies to support Second Harvest of the Big Bend as soon as the storm passes.

“We believe our response and recovery efforts are crucial to helping Floridians during times of need, including disasters,” said Safley. “We are constantly assessing community needs and organizing to offer assistance and basic supplies such as food, water, hygiene and clean up kits to those who might be affected.” 

With Helene expected to become a major hurricane when it makes landfall on Thursday evening, Feeding Florida wanted to remind communities throughout the state of the services available to them. 

• First and foremost, individuals should visit www.FloridaDisaster.org to make a plan immediately and identify local emergency services. 
• Should individuals need food, water, or resources, they can locate their local food bank and more information about Feeding Florida at www.FeedingFlorida.org. 

Feeding Florida’s year-round efforts to plan natural disaster response and recovery efforts includes staging state resources such as water, MREs, and food boxes in strategic locations statewide. In addition, the network holds regular briefings with state Emergency Management teams and food bank emergency personnel and pre-plans re-allocation of our own assets to allow food banks statewide to react immediately and assist Floridians in affected areas. 

To learn more about the Feeding Florida food banks and the network’s disaster response efforts, please visit https://www.feedingflorida.org/taking-action/disaster-response. 

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About Feeding Florida
Feeding Florida is the state’s leading organization in the fight to end hunger. The statewide network unites 9-member food banks to provide a healthy, adequate, and consistent food supply to every community every day. Feeding Florida member food banks support the state’s 67 counites with more than 2,400 local charitable agencies, which provide food directly to individuals and families in need to ensure a hunger-free Florida. Feeding Florida’s member food banks, who are also Feeding America members, include: All Faiths Food Bank, Feeding Northeast Florida, Feeding South Florida, Feeding Tampa Bay, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Second Harvest of the Big Bend, and Treasure Coast Food Bank.