Midwest Food Bank sending semi loads to New York and Haiti

Midwest Food Bank is prepping trucks to fill with boxes full of goods to aid those affected by Hurricane Henri. (WJBC File Photo)

By Blake Haas

NORMAL – The Midwest Food Bank is sending a semi load of food boxes and hygiene kits to help with Hurricane Henri and disasters in Haiti and New York.

According to a news release, a semi load would be leaving on Tuesday and head to New York to help with disaster relief.

“We are standing by to help our neighbors in the Northeast,” says Tara Ingham, Executive Director of Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal. ‘Our dedicated volunteers and generous donors allow MFB to bring help and hope to those in need.”

MFB is shipping earthquake relief sea containers to Haiti after a 7.2 earthquake hit the peninsula in August. Additionally, the peninsula was hit by tropical storm Grace that dumped up to 15 inches of rain.

The Midwest Food Bank is also anticipating requests for relief in Tennessee, as 22 people were killed, and more than 50 are missing after massive rainfall.

“We are in a state of readiness for Disaster Relief requests,” said Mike Hoffman, Logistics Director of Midwest Food Bank.” MFB is preparing to send relief as long as necessary.”

For those who wish to help, financial donations can be made at midwestfoodbank.org. There will be volunteer opportunities for the community as disaster relief boxes are assembled this week.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…