UPDATE 10/16/16: additional food bank options and Amazon wish lists.
Kids With Food Allergies (KFA), a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), is asking you to help families in North Carolina in the aftermath of severe flooding from Hurricane Matthew.
At least 22 people there died due to the storm. This is the worst flooding the state has seen since 1999.
One of KFA's community members told us she was trapped in her house for days feeding her baby nothing but Cheerios and some formula. Please help us assist families like hers with getting access to safe food.
AAFA-affiliated support groups in North Carolina are working together to coordinate a food drive for families with food allergies.
How you can help:
Please send boxes labeled ALLERGEN-FRIENDLY FOOD to these food banks. Each of the food banks has an Amazon Wish List:
ATTN: ALLERGEN-FRIENDLY FOOD
Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina
406 Deep Creek Road, PO Box 2009
Fayetteville, NC 28302
Amazon Wish List - Fayetteville
ATTN: ALLERGEN-FRIENDLY FOOD
Food Bank of the Albemarle
109 Tidewater Way
P. O. Box 1704
Elizabeth City, NC 27906
Amazon Wish List - Elizabeth City
ATTN: ALLERGEN-FRIENDLY FOOD
Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
3808 Tarheel Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609
The food banks can accept both small boxes as well as pallets from companies that wish to donate.
You can order off this list and mail directly. Add ALLERGEN-FRIENDLY FOOD to the gift message when you check out so that the food banks can identify your donation as allergy-friendly.
The food banks will segregate allergen-friendly foods in a separate area.*
AAFA and KFA thanks the following support groups and individuals in North Carolina for working together to support this disaster relief effort:
Food Allergy Families of the Triad
Parents of Allergic Kids
RFA Consulting (Rock Food Allergies Consulting, Raleigh)
NC FACES
We also thank the individuals and companies that are already shipping allergy-friendly food to North Carolina.
Why is this an issue for families with food allergies?
Families who have children with food allergies encounter challenging circumstances during emergencies. Some of the unique requirements of this population after disasters include:
1. Shelters with safe kitchens
2. Medications on-site, including nebulizers for people with asthma and epinephrine for severe allergic reactions
3. Safe food for people with food allergies and food intolerances
4. Elemental formula for infants with special restrictive diets
We will post updates as they become available.
*AAFA and the local support groups cannot guarantee that the location(s) will have allergy-safe foods for people who need them.
Comments (1)