By Breanna Lea/WMBD-TV
BLOOMINGTON – State Farm Insurance is making a donation to send disaster relief boxes containing food to Texas from the Midwest Food Bank in Bloomington even as the food bank makes plans for when Hurricane Irma is expected to pound Florida this weekend.
State Farm donated $40,000 to the food bank, which will use the money to buy food and pay for fuel for trucks heading to flood-ravaged areas of Texas, as food bank CEO David Kieser told our news partner, WMBD-TV.
“There’s somebody hurting in Texas right now and for State Farm to come through and support what we’re doing, we couldn’t do it without those kinds of donor,” Keiser said.
Keiser added Midwest Food Bank is also prepared to help Florida should Hurricane Irma strike.
“We are taking our equipment trucks from our Florida division, Fort Meyers, Florida, to our Atlanta division; Atlanta, Georgia,” Keiser said. “In hopes that if we have to respond to that disaster, our equipment will have been saved from being destroyed by the storm.”
At a Labor Day volunteering event to fill Disaster Relief boxes, 110 people came to the Bloomington warehouse and helped fill 2.5 semi loads of boxes.
“Volunteers assemble, pack and drive the boxes to the disaster sites,” said Phil Hodel, Midwest Food Bank Director of Communications. “None of this would be possible without dedicated, hard-working volunteers with a heart to bless others.”
Anyone wanting help with the effort should visit www.bloomington.midwestfoodbank.org, and click on “Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts.” There is information on how to donate, how to sign-up to volunteer, and lists of supplies needed. Those wishing to help with the cost of food, hygiene items, cleaning supplies and transportation costs, may also send donations to Midwest Food Bank, 2031 Warehouse Road, Normal, 61761.
