Relief Rushed to Countries Hit by Hurricane Ida
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Nov. 11, 2009) — Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development agency in the United States, is rushing to deliver 24 containers of hurricane relief supplies to those countries hit hardest by Hurricane Ida – El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Mexico.
El Salvador was hit hardest, both with loss of life and damage from flooding and mudslides. As searchers continued to look for victims, the death toll was put at 136 people. More than 7,000 families were left homeless.
“At times like this, it is important to reach out to our brothers and sisters with whatever we can supply, and let them know that someone cares for them,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “The people in the countries we serve start at a disadvantage when a storm like this threatens, and it can be devastating.”
Fr. David Blanchard, a priest who has worked as a missionary in El Salvador since the late ‘80s and has been a longtime partner of Food For The Poor, sent an urgent request to the charity today for items to provide temporary shelter. The Christian relief agency will send lumber and zinc for roofs, as well as waterproof sheetrock that can be used to put up simple shelters and later used for construction of more permanent buildings.
In addition, El Salvador will receive 13 containers including such things as medical supplies, clothing, blankets, bottled water, tarps and rice.
Ten containers will be sent to Nicaragua, a country where more than 13,000 people have been displaced by flooding and mudslides. Those containers are filled with such things as food and energy-replacement drinks, medical supplies, zinc for roofs and personal care items. Mexico, which suffered some damage as the storm brushed past the country’s Yucatan peninsula, will receive one container of personal care items, food and cleaning supplies.
Those who want to help can go to www.foodforthepoor.org/stormrelief and make a donation. More than 96 percent of all donations to Food For The Poor go directly toward programs that help the poor.
Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. We provide emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information please visit, http://www.foodforthepoor.org.
Contact:
Kathy Skipper
Marketing/PR Manager
(954) 427-2222 x 6614
[email protected]