News Release: Local Food Banks Help Residents In Need Following Power Outages

Contact: Janice Osborne Regional Communications Officer Telephone: (610) 865-4400 Pager: (610) 830-9771 FOR MEDIA ONLY

Northeast PA food banks available to help residents See bottom of news release for complete list of Northeast PA Region Red Cross chapters and contact information

NORTHEAST, PA (Nov. 5, 2012) – The American Red Cross has been receiving numerous phone calls from the public asking about financial assistance for food or replacement of groceries lost during the recent power outages. While it would be nearly impossible, both logistically and financially, for the Red Cross to replace groceries for that many people, there are other agencies that can help. 

Residents may call their major food bank distributor in Northeast Pennsylvania or call 2-1-1 (1-855-501-6785) for a list of food banks in their area. 

Below is a list of Northeast Pennsylvania counties and contact information for major food banks within the counties:

1. Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Wayne, Pike and Monroe counties:  Please call Second Harvest Food Bank at (610) 434-0875 or visit www.shfblv.org for a list of food banks in your neighborhood. For Lehigh and Northampton counties residents only, disaster boxes filled with nonperishable food are being distributed. Residents must pick up the boxes at 2045 Harvest Way in Allentown, Monday-Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

2. Berks and Schuylkill counties, call the Greater Berks Food Bank at (610) 926-5802.

3. Lackawanna, Wyoming, Susquehanna, and Luzerne counties, call Weinberg Food Bank at (570) 826-0510.

4. Bradford and Sullivan counties, call the Williamsport Food Bank at (570) 321-8023.

5. Columbia County and Montour counties, call Central Pennsylvania Food Bank at (717) 564-1700 or (570) 321-8023.

Northeast PA Region Red Cross chapters and contact information:

Janet CurtisCarmon FlynnRita InklovichExecutive DirectorExecutive DirectorExecutive DirectorBerks,Schuylkill

Office: (610) 375-4383, ext. 121

Cell: (570) 789-3659Lackawanna, Bradford-Sullivan,

Susquehanna andWyomingCounties

Office: (570) 207-0111DanvilleArea, Bloomsburg,          Greater Berwick

Office: (570) 784-1395 Cell: (570) 290-0797Cell: (570) 594-3217 Jim Rienhardt Sherry Williams John HughesExecutive DirectorExecutive DirectorRegional CEOPoconos, Wayne PikeWyomingValley,HazletonGreaterLehighValleyOffice: (570) 476-3800

Cell: (570) 234-9444Office: (570) 823-7161, ext. 325

Cell:  (570) 417-5608Office: (610) 865-4400, ext. 236

Cell:  (610) 533-0500

American Red Cross 2200 Avenue A,Bethlehem, PA 18017 redcross.org

About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.  For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org. 

#caclv #shfbSecondHarvestFoodBankoftheLehighValleyandNortheastPennsylvania #FinancialAssistanceforFood #AmericanRedCross #HurricaneSandyVictims #Foodbanks