The Capital Area Food Bank not only provides food, we also provide manpower to our sister food banks. Miguel Barthe, CAFB driver, helped The New Orleans Food Bank serve western parishes of Louisiana affected by Hurricane Ike. He reports his experience:

Miguel Barthe

“As I started my trip to New Orleans it was a beautiful day. As I got into Houston I couldn’t help but notice the forces of nature and the devastation from Houston and all the way to New Orleans.

Trees were snapped like twigs, on top of homes, and there was water damage and debris everywhere. The water covered the streets. People were looking for friends, family, pets and even their personal belongings.

Flooding from Hurricane Ike

 

You can’t help but feel for the people that have lost so much. As an evacuee of Hurricane Katrina, my eyes are opened and I’m truly aware and saddened by this devastating reality.

During my stay, I helped the New Orleans Food Bank organize food and supplies and worked to distribute emergency packages as needed.

I’m amazed and thankful at the generosity of these communities and in working with the New Orleans Food Bank and the Food Bank in Austin, I’ve realized that this is such a great resource. The Food Banks really care.”

 

 

THANK YOU – We graciously thank all of the community members who donated their time and money to our Hurricane Ike relief efforts. As of 1 p.m. Monday, more than 375,000 pounds of food & supplies and $420,000 has been donated by Central Texas.

Dozens who volunteered for the first time at CAFB last week, including Dorothy Galloway who is living in Austin with her son until her home in Houston has electricity again. On Friday, Galloway filed papers, folded newsletters and helped the Food Bank staff with various projects.

“People have been kind to me, and I thought maybe I had something to give back,” Galloway said.

And many long-time volunteers have put in hours for Ike relief, too. Cliff Wilkes has sorted food donations once a week in the CAFB warehouse since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This week, Wilkes gave Hurricane Ike evacuees emergency food packages and saw the direct impact of volunteering at the Food Bank.

We would not be able to serve thousands of evacuees without the help of our volunteers, and equally as important are those who gave monetary contributions. A couple came in on their seventh wedding anniversary and gave $300.

“We decided to take all the money we would have spent on flowers, dinner and gifts and donate it to the Food Bank,” she said. “We are going to have a simple meal at home tonight.”

Ike Relief Update, as of 2pm Monday –

This week, we will send up to seven (7) tractor-trailers of food and supplies to the Houston Food Bank and Montgomery County Food Bank.  Each truck holds about 42,000 pounds.

CAFB staff deployed to help:
CAFB Warehouse Lead, Ryan Toups, is at the Houston Food Bank this week, assisting with shipping and receiving. CAFB driver, Miguel Barthe is helping the New Orleans Food Bank serve western parishes of Louisiana, which were impacted by both Gustav and Ike.

Evacuees staying in Central Texas can receive emergency food packages from our Partner Agencies throughout Central Texas.  We are working closely with our Partner Agencies to make sure they are stocked to meet the demand.  A referral list of agencies is at www.austinfoodbank.org

About 8,000 emergency food packages, total, have been distributed so far.

The Food Bank will continue to accept donations on-site, around the clock, Monday through Friday.  

MOST NEEDED: Canned meats and soups with pop-top lids, and diapers (adult and baby), Granola bars, Peanut butter, Personal care items (shampoo, toothbrushes, soap, feminine hygiene).

** We no longer need bottled water or pet food. **

Volunteers and staff work together in assisting evacuees

Cars continue to line the parking lot

As of 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19

Approximately 240,000 pounds of food & supplies and $380,000 has been donated by the public. Volunteers are preparing emergency food packages to give to evacuees on site and to ship to food banks in affected areas. We are in close contact with the Houston Food Bank and will send food and supplies as soon as their infrastructure to receive and distribute is in place.

Emergency food packages are available at the Food Bank for evacuees staying in Central Texas. They can pick them up NOON – 5 p.m. on FRIDAY, 9/19 and SATURDAY, 9/20 at: 8201 S. Congress Ave, between William Cannon & Slaughter Lane.

NEXT STEPS: After Saturday, evacuees can receive emergency food packages from CAFB Partner Agencies throughout Central Texas. We are working closely with our Partner Agencies to make sure they are stocked to meet the demand. View or referral list here. (pdf)

The Food Bank will accept donations on-site, around the clock THROUGH SATURDAY, 9/19 at 5 p.m. Donations will be accepted again Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

MOST NEEDED: Canned meats and soups with pop-top lids, and diapers (adult and baby), granola bars, peanut butter, personal care items (shampoo, toothbrushes, soap, feminine hygiene).

** We no longer need bottled water or pet food. **

Thank you for your continued support. We love being a part of this amazing and generous community!

EXTENDED: Emergency food packages are available at the Food Bank for evacuees staying in Central Texas. You can pick them up NOON - 5 p.m. NOW THROUGH SATURDAY, SEPT. 20.

After Saturday, evacuees can receive emergency food packages from CAFB Partner Agencies throughout Central Texas. We are working closely with our Partner Agencies to make sure they are stocked to meet the demand. View our referral list here. (pdf)

MOST NEEDED: Canned meats with pop-top lids, diapers (adult and baby), granola bars, peanut butter, personal care items including shampoo, toothbrushes, soap and feminine hygiene products.

**We no longer need bottled water or pet food.**

Tyson Foods - You might remember Tyson Food’s generous donation earlier this month. In response to disaster relief they have also donated truck loads of emergency food to affected Texas Food Banks including an additional truck to us. Thank you, Tyson Foods!

Save-A-Lot – Based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Save-A-Lot is an extreme value grocery store with several stores in Houston.

Save-A-Lot driver

They wanted to assist the local area evacuees and researched online, came across our blog and contacted us.

They donated almost 20,000 pounds of emergency items, including items we needed that weren’t on the list. Thank you, Save-A-Lot!

H-E-B – On Wed., Sept. 17, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the H-E-B on Parmer Lane and IH35 collected food and financial donations from the community for Hurricane Ike disaster relief.

With your help, we raised approximately 138,000 pounds of food and supplies and $65,000 in financial contributions.

David Davenport (left) and Mr. Everything (right)

In addition to the donations, we met David Zurovetz, a resident of Austin for 39 years who supports the community with enthusiasm and flare. He’s a friend of the Bucky & Bob show on 98.1KVET and is known to them as “Everything.”

Do you…

Live in one of the 29 counties declared a disaster area?
Have less than $5,000 in liquid resources (i.e., savings/checking account)?
Have a monthly income that does not exceed:

If so, you may qualify for two months of Emergency Food Stamps

This benefit will allow you to purchase groceries for your family, as well as hot, ready-to-eat food. The average benefit is $93 per-month!

Household Size Gross income:

1                                                $1,430

2                                                 1,925

3                                                 2,420

4                                                 2,915

Each additional person                        +495
To apply for Emergency Food Stamps

Bring proof of your identity & residence to one of Austin’s food stamps offices:

1601 RUTHERFORD LN – 512-339-8868
1165 AIRPORT BLVD – 512-929-7330
724 EBERHART LN – 512-445-0022 (closest office to the Food Bank)

Jack Buxton

More than 1,600 Hurricane Ike evacuees not staying at local shelters made their way to the Capital Area Food Bank on Monday to pick up emergency food boxes. Evacuees may not be able to return to their homes for another 4 to 6 weeks, and many have already run out of money to provide for themselves while they temporarily stay with relatives or friends. Supplies ran out at 2 p.m. Monday, forcing CAFB employees to regretfully turn some away.

Jeannette Britnell and daughter

Jack Buxton, a floral arranger from Galveston, is staying with his daughter in Austin. He learned about the emergency food boxes on News 8 and was grateful to receive the food that will provide for himself, his girlfriend and her two children in the days to come. “We had limited money that we brought, and now that is running out. I don’t want to be a burden on my daughter. Her husband just got laid off.”

Buxton’s boss already told him to file for unemployment, since there is no way to know when the flower store will have regular business again.

Families waiting for food boxes at CAFB

Many Hurricane Ike evacuees are fortunate to have loved ones house them and offer moral support. But many of the evacuees expressed sentiments of not wanting to impose on their Austin relatives who may have limited resources. Yolanda Gutierrez and eleven extended family members are staying in Austin with in-laws. They evacuated from Texas City with a week’s worth of clothes, some water and any dry goods they already had from their pantries. Although friends of their relatives gave Gutierrez’s family some food, twelve mouths is a lot to feed. Right now, the Food Bank is their only source of food. “The items provided [in the box] are very helpful. Soups, beans, things that children can eat.” Gutierrez has experience with emergency food boxes: her own church, where her husband is the pastor, has a food pantry that gives to the community every other week. “We are just very thankful. It’s nice to know that we can depend on the Food Bank here in Austin.”

Tera and Kim Denney

Jeannette Britnell, a retiree from Orange, found out about CAFB’s emergency food boxes when she and her family went looking for help at an Austin area Goodwill. Britnell says she doesn’t know what condition her house is in, or even when she can return home. The assurance of receiving a food box, and the news that CAFB was also giving out dog food, allowed her to temporarily relax. “Altogether we have six dogs. They’re all small, but we had to bring them.” The only other items that Britnell was able to fit in the family car were some clothes and her oxygen machine, giving her no choice but to leave everything else behind. “I had a little bit of cash with me, and I spent it on groceries yesterday. It didn’t last long.”

Kim Denney and her thirteen year old daughter, Tera, evacuated from Lumberton to stay at a motel in the small town of Giddings, Texas. They drove an hour west to Austin this morning because they heard about the assistance CAFB was offering people. Denney and her daughter were grateful to receive “substantial food” and “something other than Ramen noodles” which is what the two have been eating for the past few days. Tera Denney choked up while expressing her appreciation. “We didn’t bring much food, clothing or anything like that. It is just a big thank you. My mom and I both started crying the other day because we couldn’t pay for anything. We didn’t have enough money. My nanny had to give us $200 today to pay for the next few days of the hotel room.”

Everyday survival may still be a struggle for evacuees for some time, even after they can return home. “We just had gone shopping and our freezer had a bunch of food in it,” said Denney. “It’s all gonna be ruined when we get back.”

As of 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 15

Approximately 36,000 pounds of food & supplies and $28,000 has been donated by the public.

Volunteers are preparing 25-pound emergency food boxes to send to Austin shelters and the affected areas. A truckload is going to the Brazos Valley Food Bank today at around NOON.

About 600 food boxes have been distributed so far to shelters and individuals. Volunteers are preparing thousands more food boxes to be trucked to the affected areas.

Need Help?

Emergency food boxes are available at the Food Bank for evacuees not staying at shelters (staying with family, friends, or otherwise). They can pick them up 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. NOW THROUGH FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 at: 8201 S. Congress Ave, between William Cannon & Slaughter Lane.

How to Help

Donate food and cash at the Food Bank at any time through Friday, September 19. at and at H-E-B on Parmer, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Wednesday, September 17.

• Bottled water
• Canned meats (pop-top lids)
• Granola bars
• Peanut butter
• Diapers and wipes
• Personal care items (shampoo, conditioner, feminine products, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, etc.)

MOST NEEDED RIGHT NOW : PEANUT BUTTER, LARGER-SIZE DIAPERS AND DOG FOOD (many evacuees have dogs).

Donate online at www.austinfoodbank.org. You can designate your donation to Ike relief.

Watch video coverage on myfoxaustin.com.

View photos of CAFB’s Hurricane Ike relief efforts on flickr.com
Donate online at www.austinfoodbank.org. You can designate your donation to Ike relief.

As of 4 p.m., Saturday, September 13

Approximately 20,000 pounds of food & supplies and $8,000 has been donated by the public so far for Ike relief.
Volunteers are preparing 25-pound emergency food boxes to send to Austin shelters and the affected areas.
About 350 food boxes have been distributed so far to shelters and individuals. Volunteers are preparing thousands more food boxes to be trucked to Houston as early as tomorrow.
Bottled water
Canned meats (pop-top lids)
Granola bars
Peanut butter
Diapers and wipes

• MOST NEEDED RIGHT NOW : PEANUT BUTTER AND LARGER-SIZE DIAPERS.

Donate online at www.austinfoodbank.org. You can designate your donation to Ike relief.
Emergency food boxes are available at the Food Bank for evacuees not staying at shelters (staying with family, friends, or otherwise). They can pick them up 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on SUNDAY at: 8201 S. Congress Ave, between William Cannon & Slaughter Lane.
The Food Bank is accepting donations around the clock through Sunday evening:

About 7,000 pounds of food and $1,000 have been donated so far for Ike relief.

We are accepting donations around the clock through Sunday evening:

• Bottled water
• Canned meats (pop-top lids)
• Granola bars
• Peanut butter
• Baby diapers and wipes

Donate online at www.austinfoodbank.org. You can designate your donation to Ike relief.

We’re preparing 25 lb. emergency food boxes to send to shelters. 60 boxes have been sent to shelters so far. Watch the video.

Emergency food boxes are available at the Food Bank for evacuees not staying at shelters. They can be picked up between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (8201 S. Congress Ave, between William Cannon & Slaughter Lane)

September is not just Hunger Action Month; it’s also the height of hurricane season for Gulf Coast residents. For low-income Texas families, hurricane season can be yet another emotional and financial strain – especially with the costs associated with evacuation. While federal programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and non-profits are at the heart of disaster relief, it still takes active participation from the community to put ideas and processes into action.

Yesterday’s HAM-up Grill-up at Whole Foods is one way the social media community helped us do double duty – emergency food relief for both Central Texans and recent evacuees to Central Texas.

As a line formed to order grilled kabobs, participants donated cash and the five non-perishable food items we’ve requested for disaster relief efforts. Thanks for helping raise $128. We’re still tallying up total for grilled items and nonperishable donations. Whole Foods will place the big blue donation barrel at their store entrance over the weekend to collect even more donations!

Our Twitter friends from Stalelife and Adomatica canceled their Food Drive Bike Ride planned for Saturday’s HAM-up. Instead, they joined forces to collect donations at the Dirt Derby, an Austin-based mountain bike and cyclocross race series. They offered $3 off race fees to every rider who brought at least two nonperishable food items. Donations from riders and spectators enabled them to collect enough food to fill a small shopping cart.

Your donations on the front lines of hunger:

Food Bank staff are on the road, helping deliver emergency food boxes to arriving families in Austin.

Karla Cantu, Agency Relations Director, reports her experience today:

Glenda (Vice President, Community Programs) and I just took water, snacks, diapers and other paper products to Small Middle School. Small Middle School is housing 200 evacuees with 200 more being sent from Crocket High School. Small has a capacity of 415 people which they will meet with the new arrivals.

There were many small babies and disabled. The school, city officials and a Red Cross individual were all doing a great job, and they were very grateful for the water and granola bars. It was evident our help came just in time. We’ll have to come back for additional diapers, adult diapers, water and other items since they quickly went through what we took.

The picture of the family with the small baby is Tyrone, Adanisha and one month old Dizmond who traveled from Galveston. The other baby is Angel Ortiz with his father Uzziel, they also traveled from Galveston.

 

Thank you, 501 Tech Club, Social Media Club Austin, Stalelife, Adomatica, Whole Foods and the social media community, for helping us with disaster relief.

Please continue to visit www.austinfoodbank.org for information on how to help, and how to get help for disaster relief.