TO: DATE: CONTACT: CONTACT INFO: RE:

News Editors September 13, 2011 Missy Goetschius Community & Public Relations Manager, Food Bank of the Southern Tier 607.796.6061 x4023 or email mlsmith@feedingamerica.org Food Bank of the Southern Tier Assists with Flood Relief Efforts Across Southern Tier

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Southern Tier, NY In response to devastating flood damage across the Southern Tier, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier is on hand to assist neighbors in need, particularly in hard hit communities throughout Broome, Tioga and Chemung counties. The Food Bank is working with first responders, including the Red Cross, to provide emergency food assistance to those affected by flooding. As a member of Feeding America, the nations food bank network, the Food Bank is able to leverage both regional and national resources to assist with relief efforts. We reached out to Feeding America on Friday and within a few hours we received commitments of product from our sister food banks in New York City, Rochester, and Hillside, New Jersey, explained Natasha Thompson, President & CEO of the Food Bank. Local donors such as Wegmans, Tops, Sysco, Jubilee and Behlogs also responded quickly to the Food Banks request for assistance. The Seneca Beverage Corporation in Elmira Heights allowed the Food Bank to borrow one of their trucks to assist with distribution. The community response to this tragedy has been truly inspiring, added Thompson. The Food Bank is working on building its inventory of disaster relief items including water, baby items, nonperishable, easy to prepare foods, and cleaning supplies. These items will be distributed to relief centers in affected communities as well as through the Food Banks network of member agencies, including food pantries and meal sites. In areas where pantries and meal sites were affected by the flood, the Food Bank plans to distribute disaster relief items through its Mobile Food Pantry Program with the help of its volunteers. Since Friday, the Food Bank has already served 50 displaced households in Wellsburg through a Mobile Food Pantry distribution, transported over 2,200 pounds of household cleaning supplies and personal care items including bleach, laundry detergent, dish soap, bar soap, and shampoo to Tioga Outreach in Waverly and delivered a truckload of disaster relief supplies to Catholic Charities Food Pantry and CHOW in Binghamton. The Food Bank plans to continue acquiring and distributing disaster relief items to individuals and agencies throughout the Southern Tier for as long as necessary. If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, visit the Food Banks website www.foodbankst.org or call 607-7976-6061 for a listing of hunger-relief agencies and Mobile Food Pantry distributions. If you are interested in supporting the Food Banks flood relief efforts, visit www.foodbankst.org or call 607-796-6061. A $5 donation enables the Food Bank to acquire over $27 worth of food and grocery products, such as bottled water, peanut butter, tuna, canned soup, vegetables, ravioli, pasta & beef meals as well as cleaning supplies such as bleach, toiletries and paper towels. The Food Bank is also in need of volunteers to help repackage bulk food for distribution to those affected by flooding.

gro.tsknabdoof.www 8206.697.706 :F 1606.697.706 :P 30941 kroY weN ,arimlE eunevA doowkaO reppU 883

aciremA gnideeF fo rebmem a dna seitirahC cilohtaC fo ycnega lanoiger A

ABOUT THE FOOD BANK

In operation since 1981, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier distributes food and food-related products to people in need through a network of more than 160 hunger-relief member agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other non-profit organizations. The Food Bank also has a number of direct service programs that fight hunger including the BackPack Program and Mobile Food Pantry. Located in Elmira, NY, the Food Bank is a regional agency of Catholic Charities and a member of Feeding America. The Food Bank serves the six counties of Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins.

gro.tsknabdoof.www 8206.697.706 :F 1606.697.706 :P 30941 kroY weN ,arimlE eunevA doowkaO reppU 883

aciremA gnideeF fo rebmem a dna seitirahC cilohtaC fo ycnega lanoiger A