Midwest Food Bank in Peachtree City preparing for disaster relief

As a Salvation Army first responder, Midwest Food Bank is preparing to send disaster relief food boxes to the Carolinas. Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall late Thursday or early Friday as a Category 4 storm. At 400 miles wide, Florence is expected to stall along the coast with at least 100 mph winds and catastrophic rain up to 40 inches.

Midwest Food Bank, headquartered in Normal, Ill., has five semi-trailer loads of disaster relief food boxes ready to ship. Each box has enough food to feed a family of four for up to 4-5 days. Volunteers assemble, fill, load, drive the boxes to stricken areas as requested by The Salvation Army.

“Our partnership with The Salvation Army allows us to get into areas quickly and efficiently,” says Mike Hoffman, Procurement and Logistics Director at MFB. “And volunteers make it all possible.”

While there are no specific food-packing volunteer opportunities scheduled, Hoffman encourages people to check MFB’s web site (MidwestFoodBank.org) and Facebook pages. Volunteer opportunities and items needed will be posted.

To offset the cost of food for the boxes and fuel to deliver them, donations may be sent to Midwest Food Bank, 220 Parkade Court, Peachtree City, GA 30269, or visit midwestfoodbank.org and click “Donate.”

At other times, Midwest Food Bank in Peachtree City conducts distribution events eight times each month. During these events, volunteers gather and assist in giving away tons of food.

On average, Midwest Food Bank gives away over 20 tons of food during each distribution day. The food is given to partnering nonprofit organizations serving their communities, many from Fayette, Coweta, and Fulton counties. Midwest Food Bank currently serves over 300 nonprofit organizations from 50 different counties in 6 states.

“Distribution days are very special. It’s the best thing we do,” says Executive Director Will Garner. “The incredible volunteers who help us know that their efforts are touching lives and having a positive impact in communities all around our region. However, we can always use more volunteers.” 

If you would like to be part of something special, contact the food bank’s volunteer coordinator, Danielle Cofer at 770-486-1103, ext. 405 or email dcofer@midwestfoodbank.org. The distribution calendar can be found on their website at peachtree.midwestfoodbank.org.

Photos below show the volunteers at Midwest Food Bank in action a few days before the hurricane alerts.