South Carolina Disaster Response

PRESS RELEASE: Midwest Food Bank Aids Victims Impacted by the Flooding in South Carolina

Date: October 6, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Midwest Food Bank

Midwest Food Bank with locations in Indianapolis IN, Bloomington IL, Morton IL, Ft Meyers FL and Peachtree City GA announced today that it will be assisting the Salvation Army with relief efforts in the wake of the severe flooding that hit South Carolina. Midwest Food Bank will be shipping disaster relief from its Indianapolis location. The first shipment will include Salvation Army disaster relief kits, water, and other supplies. "The magnitude of the devastation in the wake of this disaster is quite significant and many families and individuals who are victims of this natural disaster are without the basic necessities of life. We are thankful we can help provide hope and relief to those in need", says John Whitaker, Executive Director of Midwest's Indianapolis division. When asked how people can help with this effort, Whitaker said "We are requesting those who wish to help in this endeavor to pray and consider sending a donation to support our ongoing efforts."

Midwest will also work with Vincennes IN based Helping His Hands Disaster Response which focuses on first response in natural disasters. A team of first responders from Midwest and Helping His Hands will be leaving to survey the damage and to connect with several local churches and emergency agencies in Columbia, SC. Their goal is to coordinate efforts for an ongoing response for the next several weeks with groups trained in disaster relief.

Individuals can donate by either visiting the Midwest Food Bank's web site at southcarolina.mfbindy.com, clicking the "Donate" button and following the instructions for designating to the South Carolina Disaster or by sending a check to Midwest Food Bank, 6450 S. Belmont Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46217 designated to "South Carolina Disaster". Donations for disaster relief will help offset the cost of the product and transportation.

As a faith-based organization, it is the mission of Midwest Food Bank to bring hope and help alleviate hunger by gathering and distributing food donations to non-profit agencies and disaster sites without cost to the recipients. Midwest Food Bank serves over 750 agencies which assist hundreds of thousands of needy individuals through its six divisions. In addition, MFB responds to disasters across the US and worldwide.

Helping His Hands Disaster Response is a faith based organization that responds to natural disasters across the country. This year they have responded to tornadoes in Oklahoma and Illinois. Their mission is to bring hope and a hand of service to those in need. Individuals can donate to their cause at www.helpinghishands.com

Midwest Food Bank has been recognized as a "Four Star" charity by Charity Navigator www.charitynavigator.org, ranking in the top ten high performing charities based upon excelling in three areas: 1) financial 2) accountability and transparency and 3) results.

**For more information about Midwest Food Bank, visit www.midwestfoodbank.org or about Salvation Army work on tornado relief, visit http://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/.