GBFB Sends 187,749 Pounds of Food to East Coast States Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

After making sure that Eastern Massachusetts hunger relief organizations survived Hurricane Sandy and were not in need of urgent assistance, The Greater Boston Food Bank began reaching out to food banks in areas impacted most by Hurricane Sandy to find out how GBFB could help. It became clear that shelf stable food items, water, and cleaning supplies were needed in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Last weekend, 5 tractor trailers filled with emergency relief supplies left Boston, destined for areas where the need was greatest including the Connecticut Food Bank, in East Haven, CT; City Harvest in Queens, NY; and The Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside, NJ. This week, GBFB will return to City Harvest in Queens, NY with a tractor trailer filled with water and food as requested by the coordinators on the ground. GBFB is prepared to send additional supplies and volunteers as needed to continue to help our sister food banks work to restore operations. “Our counterparts in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut know we are always ready to help, because they would do the same for us if we needed it,” said Carol Tienken, GBFB Chief Operating Officer. A number of GBFB partners have helped support relief efforts over the past week by resorting donated food items, donating money, or sending some of the most requested food items and supplies. How can you help? If you would like to get involved and help with GBFB’s relief efforts, we encourage you to:

• Visit GBFB.org/Donate. By donating “wherever the need is greatest” we can efficiently allocate your funds. GBFB will need to replenish the inventory sent down the coast to help in the storm to ensure we are able to continue supporting those in need right here in our community.
• Host a food drive and ask for the most needed items, including soups, stews, and high protein foods such as tuna, peanut butter and beans. You can drop of donations at our Yawkey Distribution Center, 70 South Bay Ave, Boston, MA