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Los Angeles, July 2008 — The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) has granted America's Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network US$40,000 to provide food and water to those stricken by recent flooding in the Midwest. America's Second Harvest, the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States, will use this grant to work closely with local food banks to bring food and water to those affected by floods, many of whom have been forced to evacuate their homes.
“Thousands of homes, farms, businesses and jobs have been lost,” says TPRF President Linda Pascotto. “Lives have been threatened and disrupted by this ongoing disaster.”
While recent storms have caused extensive damage throughout several states in the Midwest region, Iowa remains one of the hardest hit with 83 of its 99 counties declared disaster areas. From 35,000 to 40,000 Iowa residents have fled their homes and farms as floodwaters surged over nearby levees. Supplies remain scarce, and many people are still in dire need of both fresh food and clean water. TPRF's grant will enable relief efforts throughout the region, helping to facilitate the transportation of goods to local food banks currently supporting displaced people.
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For every dollar donated, America’s Second Harvest provides 16 meals to Americans in need.
According to ASH, even after the initial recovery period, it is expected that the need for food will be ongoing. Individuals without adequate flood insurance will be facing significant financial hardships in the coming months as they clean and rebuild their homes. In addition, individuals whose livelihoods were affected by the floods—such as those whose crops or livestock were destroyed—will also be facing economic difficulties. Many of these individuals will turn to ASH food banks and their network of food pantries and soup kitchens for help.
“We are extremely grateful for The Prem Rawat Foundation’s interest in supporting our efforts to respond to the unprecedented flooding in the Midwest,” states Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of America’s Second Harvest.
One of America’s Second Harvest’s Members is the Houston Food Bank (HFB), which was the recipient of a TPRF grant of $125,000 to provide food for evacuees of Hurricane Katrina in the U.S. in 2005 and $50,000 to provide over 80,000 meals for at-risk children at the HFB’s Kids Café earlier this year.
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Photos Courtesy of America’s Second Harvest
About America’s Second Harvest
America's Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through its network of more than 200 member food banks, America's Second Harvest annually provides assistance to more than 25 million people in need, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each year, America's Second Harvest secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products to support feeding programs at approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs and Kids Cafes.
http://www.secondharvest.org/.
About The Prem Rawat Foundation
The Prem Rawat Foundation was created in 2001 by Prem Rawat, known also as Maharaji, and has a dual mission of bringing his message of peace to people around the world and providing essential humanitarian aid to those in need. TPRF partners with other humanitarian organizations to bring food, water and rapid disaster relief where it is most needed. To learn more about TPRF’s humanitarian initiatives, Prem Rawat and his message of peace, please visit www.tprf.org.
