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NEENAH, WI (September 17, 2008) –
In response to the tremendous need in the wake of Hurricane Ike, the J. J. Keller Foundation has allocated a $25,000 grant to two partners in the relief efforts, the American Red Cross and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
According to Steve Hansen, regional executive with the American Red Cross of East Central Wisconsin, based in Oshkosh, “The Red Cross partners with a variety of agencies in time of disaster, and in Texas, the Baptists are among the best at responding to a crisis – especially when it comes to serving food to massive numbers of people.”
In the wake of Ike, more than 100 Southern Baptist disaster relief units were on hand in the Texas Gulf Coast on Monday, where they began preparing 410,000 meals per day for evacuees, victims and volunteers.
Three “mega” feeding centers are set up in League City, Baytown and at Houston’s First Baptist Church. The three mega feeding units alone will prepare more than 80,000 meals a day.
The American Red Cross has thousands of staff on the ground in Texas and Louisiana, offering shelter, food, and comfort to the millions of people affected by Hurricane Ike.
In Texas, more than 2,000 Red Cross disaster workers saw more than 17,000 people seek refuge in 144 shelters. Throughout the Lonestar State, Red Cross has served more than 130,000 meals and snacks to people displaced by the storm.
In Louisiana, almost 2,000 people were provided a safe haven in 19 shelters. About 1,900 Red Cross disaster workers have served more than one million meals and snacks to those feeling the affects of not only Hurricane Ike, but those still trying to recover from Hurricane Gustav.
If you would like to contribute to relief efforts, make your check out to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund and send it to American Red Cross of East Central Wisconsin, 36 Broad Street, Suite 150, Oshkosh, WI 54901. |
