katrina
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30/8/05 - Feed The Hungry responds to the "Katrina" Crisis
Containing over 21 tons of high quality food items including 115,200 servings of premium, organic gourmet soups; 24,576 servings of ready-to-eat entrees; 8,571 servings of individually wrapped Quaker Oatmeal; 5,400 quarts of ultra-shelf life milk; and 2,000 litres of bottled water, these supplies are being distributed through local churches which are now serving as relief centers for the displaced residents of New Orleans.
Many more semi-truck loads need to be sent to supply local churches and ministries with resources for this enormous task.
31/8/05 - Feed The Hungry Delivery
Feed The Hungry has delivered the first of many distributions to help tens of thousands of affected and displaced residents of the Gulf Coast. Our first truckload arrived fully loaded with supplies within 48 hours of the eye-wall striking the coast.
2/9/05 - "Katrina" Crisis - How You Can Help!
Feed The Hungry is delivering massive semi-truck loads of emergency relief supplies to help tens of thousands of affected and displaced residents of the Gulf Coast. Many more semi-truck loads need to be sent to supply local churches and ministries with resources for this enormous task. Supplies will be distributed in conjunction with the local LeSEA Broadcasting affiliate channel, WHNO TV-20 in New Orleans.
7/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Update
As of Saturday 3rd September 2005, Feed The Hungry has sent 19 semi-trailers of emergency rations to affected people in New Orleans and Mississippi.
Thank you to all our partners and friends who have contributed. Many more people still need your urgent help please seek God about giving now.
8/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Testimony
"You would not believe what it's like to talk to Pastors who's homes and communities have been completely destroyed... and all they can talk about is how on Day 2 our trucks came rumbling into town with massive supplies, food and help.
In some cases - most of the ones I spoke with - they are just outside of the hardest hit areas... and so for the most part they just turned the truck drivers away and sent them further down the road to the Churches in the hardest hit areas.
To put this in perspective... these are Pastors who to this day have no electricity, no mail, no help, their homes have trees falled right through them... not able to yet have church services... yet they consider themselves so well off they are refusing the trucks and sending them further in.
All these guys can do is thank us for how quick and how strong the response was. Quite a different story huh... from what we hear on the news about the response."
Pastor Don Sparman, FTH Canada
Working from the South Bend Warehouse
8/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Distribution Update
LeSEA Broadcasting station (WHNO TV-20) located in the heart of New Orleans was originally planned as the distribution point for food supplies, but was found too damaged to be used.
3 staff members are unaccounted for.
FTH is working with 50 shelters in Baton Rouge alone, not to mention Biloxi, Gulfport, Hattiesburg and some others. These churches have pastors and members working 15-16 hour days to try and help people who have come for refuge.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army having been using schools and city halls as shelters, but now they're having to move people out since the facilities are needed for their intended purpose. This means that churches will become the main source of shelters for displaced people.
9/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - logistics Update
FTH has delivered more than 400 tonnes of food and aid with the help of partners and friends from our South Bend Indiana warehouse. Find out more here.
We have just received a donation of 10,000 NIV bibles to be distributed amongst Katrina Survivors.
9/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Press Release
A local trucking company has donated the use of their semi-trailers for Hurricane Katrina Relief, We just need to cover the fuel costs. That means for every donation of $1000 we can send a semi-trailer down, filled to capacity with 23,000kg of desperately needed food and aid.
We need your help. Please pray and send your support now.
Every gift, every donation makes a difference.To view the press release pdf document, click here.
10/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Hospital Dropoff
12 tonnes of milk, soup and ready-to-eat meals were unloaded by hand at an abandoned K-mart used as a temporary Special Needs Medical clinic housing 1000 patients and 400 volunteer medical personnel. FTH brought their first load of supplies.
10/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Titans Volunteer
Indiana (USA) University Basketball Team - Titans - volunteer to help sort and load FTH trucks with emergency supplies donated through restaurants in the Michiana area.
12/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Bible Donations
LeSEA ministries has delivered 25,000 NIV bibles to the devastated areas. With another contribution of 100,000 bibles just received.
13/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Report from Stefan Radelich
Click here to read the first of several reports and updates from FTH's International Director Stefan Radelich. Spending the past week on the ground and coordinating our effort he brings good news of the needs met, co-operation and salvations.
"There is no such thing as an insufficient gift… Your financial support is greatly needed as every dollar makes a difference in helping to deliver emergency relief supplies and hope to tens of thousands of displaced hungry hurting fellow believers." - Stefan Radelich
Includes 22 photos.
21/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - FTH partners with Benny Hinn
Long-time friend Benny Hinn met Peter Sumrall and the team from FTH in New Orleans to see first-hand the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. Moved with compassion Benny Hinn urged his partners to give to help the plight of the many people still living in temporary shelters.
Benny Hinn pledged that all offerings from the Friday 16th September episode of "This is your day" would go to FTH to continue our work in the devastated gulf regions.
21/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Newsboys build Tent village
According to the latest Club Studio B newsletter Aussie Christian Rock Band - Newsboys have constructed 20 tents for the temporary housing of relief workers in Gulfport MS.
To read the full report, click here.
21/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Warehouse Update
Right now our warehouse has been emptied again. As fast as we can get the food into our warehouse we're rushing it down to the needy. We have 7 trucks standing by and we anticipate we will be able to send 11 more semi-trailers of food down by the end of the week.
FTH is still getting a lot of requests from the distribution centers on the ground for more food so we plan to keep sending it.
To date FTH has sent 27 semi-trailers down to distribution centers in Hurricane affected areas.
This is 496,000kg of food worth about 2.4 million dollars Australian.
FTH has been blessed with the donation of trailers, trucks, drivers and fuel costs through the efforts of SBN local trucking company Risinger and their executives. This has allowed more money to be spent on the actual purchase of emergency food and water.
21/9/05 -"Katrina Crisis" - Missing staff members Found
LeSEA Broadcasting runs a Christian TV Station in downtown New Orleans and their TV studios and offices are unusable at present. However their actual transmitter was still working and were able to recommence broadcasting very quickly. Local staff are now looking for alternative office and studio space.
The 3 missing staff members have all been accounted for.
One staff member having quite a testimony.
22/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Papal Envoy Thanks FTH
On Monday Sept 12 Papal Envoy, Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Vatican’s charity organization, thanked Feed the Hungry for their efforts on behalf of Katrina victims.
To see the full report, click here.
22/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - FTH keeps on Truckin'
Leaving our South Bend warehouse, local Michiana volunteer drivers keep the trucks and relief supplies rolling non-stop through the night to reach their destination over 1000 miles away - the equivalent of driving from Darwin to Adelaide.
Several of the drivers share the motivations and experiences here.
23/9/05 - "Katrina Crisis" - Pizza Hut & Panera Bread partner with FTH
During the month of October 2005, participating stores of the popular Pizza Hut and the bakery chain Panera Bread will display a FTH counter-top collection display.
So far 48 Pizza Hut stores in the state of Michigan, USA and 21 Panera Bread stores throughout Indiana & Michigan, USA.
(Panera Bread is like a fusion of Gloria Jean's & Baker's Delight).
23/9/05 - "Hurricane Rita" - FTH ready to respond
Hurricane Rita continues to pose a major threat to cities and towns along the Gulf Coast. FTH is joining with many intercessory prayer ministries for the break-up and dissipation of this storm. We are praying for protection of people's lives and their possessions.
FTH has dispatched four semi-trailers of assorted food, water, medical, and relief supplies when Rita crossed the keys and entered the Gulf of Mexico. By week’s end, two more semi’s loaded with 92,000 pounds of canned goods will also be on the road. Two additional semi-trucks will depart from the agency’s South Bend warehouse on Monday, rolling non-stop through the night.
26/9/05 - "Hurricane Katrina" - Field Report
FTH has put together a short 5min video update on our relief efforts in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. It shows footage of Stefan Radelich on the ground in Baton Rogue; Bob Boucek head of logistics in our SBN warehouse, and Peter Sumrall talking with Benny Hinn and local pastor Larry Stockstill.
The FTH field report is in REAL video format and can be viewed here.
27/9/05 - "Hurricane rita" - Update
Thankfully the damage caused by Hurricane Rita was less than it could have been. FTH has scaled back it's relief work in the path of Hurricane Rita and continues to address the ongoing needs from survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
"We are working on the border of Texas/Los Angeles in response to Rita where the eyewall passed over Port Arthur/Orange, in the LA area; three trucks were on the move right before evacuation. Larry delivered one load of canned goods yesterday to the warehouse in DeRitter, LA. This morning he will be bringing a mixed load of water & ready to eat foods from the warehouse in Lafayette to Abundant Life Church in Lake Charles, LA."
Stefan Radelich
FTH International Director
30/9/05 - "Hurricane Katrina" - Warehouse Update
By Saturday 1/10/05 FTH will have loaded and dispatched 4 more semi-trailers of aid down to Hurricane Katrina victims.
This brings the total number of trucks dispatched to 44.
This is roughly 719,000kg of food and aid.
This is worth approximately $2.8 million dollars (AUD).
FTH is still receiving requests for food and aid.
Please consider sending a donation to help relieve their hardship.
No amount is insignificant and every amount is appreciated.
10/10/05 - Hurricane Katrina" - Warehouse Update
As of Friday 7th October 2005, FTH has dispatched 7 more semi-trailers of aid down to Hurricane Katrina victims.
This brings the total number of trucks dispatched to 51.
This is roughly 888,250kg of food and aid.
This is worth approximately $3.01 million dollars (AUD).
This includes 50,000 copies of the special 'Katrina' edition book of "God is in the hard stuff".
18/10/05 - "Hurricane Katrina" - NZ sends Volunteers
3 members from Rhema Family Church Whangarei in New Zealand have volunteered to travel to the USA for 3 weeks to assist with relief efforts with our partner organisation in the area PRC Compassion. Mr. P Leech and Mr. D Martin will join a "chainsaw" gang and help in the clean-up efforts. Mrs. N Lane will help in the kitchens.
Ps. Colin Miller and Rhema Family Church Whangarei are long-time supporters of a partner-church in good standing with FTH will be on the forefront of FTH efforts in the South Pacific Rim.
Members of the Rhema Family Church participated in one of food distributions in Thailand this year, and one member is in Banda Aceh, Indonesia with other relief efforts.
For more information contact PRC Compassion click here.
18/10/05 - "Hurricane Katrina" - Update
As recovery efforts continue in the gulf, the needs of victims are changing as time passes by. FTH is starting to send food items that need to be cooked, instead of ready to eat, as families in the gulf begin moving back into their homes. Robert Boucek explains, “We're sending truckloads that have beans and rice and water and canned goods.”
Director Stefan Radelich says, “Some of the places that we are working with have drive-through assembly lines where they are servicing up to 800 to 1,000 families a day.”
Feed the Hungry has a volunteer in the gulf region every two weeks. Radelich adds, “There's always somebody down in touch to tell us what the needs and tell us things are going as they need to.”
Bottled water is now in abundance, and families now want cleaning supplies. It basically goes in phases in what things that they need. People have no choice. They are literally depending on rest of the country to help them right now.
23/11/05 - Updates
FTH is continuing to truck down supplies to churches and ministries in the gulf regions affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Volunteers are prepping 5,000 Holiday Hope boxes this week at the warehouse as well. Boxes contain holiday foods (canned ham, yams, green beans, etc.), toys for kids, and inspirational literature; they’ll be distributed to targeted families in need who have been displaced/disadvantaged by the hurricanes.
New Zealand Relief Workers
Three members from the New Zealand "Rhema Family Church" have been in the New Orleans region answering the call to help.
Ps. Colin Miller from New Zealand explains that his church was greatly challenged by the Tsunami and has desired to create a "rapid-response" team in his church which can move quickly to bring relief to disaster zones, especially in the South Pacific Area.
Members of his team are providing a boon of encouragement and lifting the spirits of local residents and workers alike. Ps. Colin explains that some volunteers have not stopped helping in the 8 weeks since the Hurricane first hit the shores, have not taken a single day of rest.
One team member was quickly assigned the responsibility of a food distribution point set up in a shopping centre. The role involves the unloading of semi-trailers to the carpark (often by hand) and the regular topping up of "picking areas" where survivors come to collect their food parcels.
The Kiwi's have had many opportunities to minister as people specifically seek them out for prayer and encouragement.
Ps. Colin's team members joined me in Thailand in April. Rhema Family Church Whangarei will play a crucial part in future relief operations in the South Pacific area.
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