The Atlanta Community Food Bank is collecting donations to help victims of Hurricane Irma.
Supplies will be sent to affiliated food banks in south Georgia and Florida, where tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes and many found themselves within electricity and basic items.
Items most in demand are water, non-perishable food, toiletries and cleaning supplies.
Donations will be collected from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, 732 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. N.W.
Related:
Other nonprofits and individuals have jumped in to help as well.
Such organizations have faced the challenge of continuing the work they usually do to help people as well as pitch in when disasters such as hurricanes hit. Many, such as the American Red Cross, have deep networks of volunteers and affiliate chapters on the groups to begin helping almost immediately.
MAP International in Brunswick closed its global medicines distribution center and its administrative offices in Atlanta .
The nonprofit is now open for business and helping hurricane victims in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia and the Caribbean.
MAP is supplying its disaster health kits that include antiseptic wipes, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other essential items. Each kit is designed to help meet the needs of one person residing in a shelter for a week.
To donate to MAP, go to the organization's website at www.map.org.
Here are other ways to help and resources for people who need assistance:
- The Atlanta Track Club has launched "Run for Relief." The week-long fundraising drive for the American Red Cross will collect portions of race registrations and donate them to disaster relief efforts.
During the campaign, the Atlanta Track Club will donate $1 for every mile a participant registers to run or walk in three of the Club’s premier events: the Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon & 5K and PNC Atlanta 10 Miler & 5K. For example, $26.20 of each registration for the Publix Georgia Marathon will be donated to the American Red Cross.
“The need for resources in these hard-hit areas is urgent,” Rich Kenah, Atlanta Track Club’s executive director,” said in a statement.
All registrations completed by 11:59 p.m. Monday will be included in the donation amount. For event registration information, go to www.atlantatrackclub.org.
- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has extended its hurricane relief program to assist blood cancer patients affected by Hurricane Harvey, to now include provide direct support to blood cancer patients hit by Hurricane Irma.
Patients with a confirmed blood cancer diagnosis, living in the United States and its territoriesare eligible to receive $500 to help with cancer-related necessities such as transportation to treatment, lost or damaged medications and other needs directly related to the hurricane. Go to www.lls.org/hurricane-relief-program.
The American Red Cross is also accepting donations for those affected by Hurricane Irma. To donate, go to www.redcross.org. You can also specify whether you want your donation to go to relief efforts for Hurricane Irma or Hurricane Harvey.
- Feeding Children Everywhere has organized the Atlanta Cares Hurricane Relief Project. The project needs volunteers to pack 1,2 million meal kits for hurricane relief from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the Georgia World Congress Center, Room C3, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd. N.W. To register go to the event website.
- The Salvation Army is on the ground in Georgia and Florida providing relief efforts, spiritual and emotional support for those affected by Hurricane Irma. The Salvation Army's Incident Management Team (IMT) moved their location from Atlanta to Savannah, and closer to the most heavily impacted areas in the state. As of Wednesday evening, 33,273 meals, 50,562 drinks and 20,509 snacks and 8,319 emotional and spiritual care contacts were provided for those in Georgia impacted by Hurricane Irma. To help, those directly affected by the storm to visit helpsalvationarmy.org, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or text "Storm" to 51555.
- The United Methodist Committee on Relief , the global humanitarian aid organization of the United Methodist Church, is collecting donations to aid in hurricane recovery. Donations go directly to disaster relief efforts. Atlanta-based UMCOR works in more than 80 countries worldwide, including the United States. Donate at www.UMCOR.org and follow facebook.com/UMCOR and twitter.com/UMC_UMCOR.
