The Midwest Food Bank warehouse in Morton is sending semi-loads of family food boxes to southern Georgia to support victims of Hurricane Idalia.
They have been partnered with the Salvation Army in providing disaster relief to areas affected by natural disasters in the domestic United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
In addition to clean-up kits, the Midwest Food Bank sends food boxes filled with self-safe items, such as peanut butter and boxed dinners, to affected families in Lake Park and Valdosta, Georgia.
Executive Director of the Midwest Food Bank Peoria Division Audrey Kamm said donations can go a long way when it comes to providing disaster relief, but volunteers are what make these shipments possible.
“It's really incredible to see volunteers put all these boxes together, the community really responds and wants to help,” she said, “And so every single box is put together by a volunteer. And it's loaded by volunteers and even driven down to these relief locations by volunteers.”
Donations help cover the transport and supplies costs of providing relief.
The Midwest Food Bank plans to continue sending aid to southern Georgia as requests come in.
“It's a pretty incredible thing, and it's another way that we can make our donations go even farther by using those volunteers,” Kamm said.
Volunteer opportunities are open to individuals, families and small groups, and large groups consisting of 15 people or more.
Information on how to volunteer or donate can be found at midwestfoodbank.org.
Volunteer opportunities will be posted to the Midwest Food Bank Morton Facebook group.
