Prepared: Second Harvest and Disaster Response

At Second Harvest Food Bank, it is our job to be prepared.

At Second Harvest Food Bank, we and our network partners are responding every day to the on-going crisis of poverty and food insecurity. It’s what we do.

We are also well-prepared to engage in recovery efforts following natural disasters that impact our nation, especially our home state of North Carolina.

 

How Second Harvest’s Disaster Response Works

Second Harvest is part of Feeding America – the national network of food banks which, in addition to year-round hunger relief operations, also helps to orchestrate disaster response to serious incidents such as hurricanes.

Our goal as a network is to take care of as many people as we can, as quickly as we can. For Feeding America, Feeding the Carolinas, and Second Harvest that means making sure people have food and water— so that in the face of such devastation, families don’t have to worry about whether they’ll have enough to eat.

Second Harvest takes an active role in recovery efforts following major disasters, working with FEMA, American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and the North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NC VOAD).

Second Harvest is also a member of the Forsyth County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) and is prepared to support disaster relief throughout the state of North Carolina and especially in our 18-county service area, which we care for year round.

Our staff is well-trained and facilities are well prepared for situations such as these. Historically we have provided disaster response to local, regional, and national disasters such as the recent tornados in Guilford and Rockingham Counties and Hurricanes Irma, Harvey, Katrina, Florence and Michael.

What is happening now?

Currently, we are working with our sister food banks across the Carolinas and in Florida to support disaster recovery efforts in impacted communities. We will provide updates on our social media channels as well as on this page.

 

What can you do NOW to help the people and communities that may be impacted by the storm?

Food and Water is the name of our game. Second Harvest and our sister food banks work diligently to cover these basics for families in the wake of the disaster. We work in close coordination with other organizations that provide for other needs.

Financial donations for recovery efforts. Your financial support of our efforts is critical as they allow us to pinpoint the community needs and respond accordingly. When needed, we will activate a special giving page for donations to support our networks response efforts, including securing, staging and distributing water and food for impacted families.

 

Supporting Immediate Response Efforts

Thank you very much for your concern and willingness to help. Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC working with our local partners and those across the state to determine how we can best assist with recovery efforts. If you would like to make a donation for immediate response efforts, we encourage you to make a gift to the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, or Feeding America.

Supporting Long-Term Response Efforts

If you would like to support recovery activities – the longer-term support needed as families rebuild – you may make a gift to our Food Bank.  You can make a gift through our secure donation form by clicking the donate button below.