Roadrunner Food Bank has issued an emergency call to New Mexicans to help with money and food donations as calls pour in for help from sister food banks in Texas and Louisiana, some of which have exhausted or nearly depleted all their food stock in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

Food is needed for evacuees and those returning to communities after the devastating storm, Roadrunner said in a statement. 
 

Several have said they have exhausted their pre-stage disaster products already and one has said they will likely deplete the remaining $900,000 set aside for disaster relief by the end of this week. Several food banks in Texas are running on generator support and communicating only by cell-phone. The food bank in San Antonio reported that they received 500 calls in one hour with people contacting them for food. It is anticipated that the 1 million people who have already been evacuated will need long-term support. Power issues are expected to affect more than 22 counties in Texas, which may make it difficult for evacuees to return home.

Roadrunner is the New Mexico member of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), the largest domestic hunger-relief agency, which in turn provides assistance to foods banks in the Gulf Coast area through its member food banks.

“Our sister food banks will need as much assistance as we can give them now and in the weeks to follow," Roadrunner Executive Director Melody Wattenbarger said in the statement. "Flooding will displace many residents for long periods of time and food banks in the Gulf Coast area already have depleted food stores. They are counting on many food banks in the U.S. like us to give additional assistance. We hope our community can step forward to help with relief efforts."

Monetary donations are the quickest way for the Food Bank to respond, she said, but Roadrunner is also accepting donations of these non-perishable items: 
 

Heat-and eat-foods
Meals Ready to Eat (MREs)
Bottled drinking water (no glass containers)
Meal replacement beverages, such as Ensure
Shelf stable juice, milk and sports beverages
Canned foods (canned meats, vegetables, fruits, soups)
Single serving snacks (cereal bars, peanut butter, Pop Tarts, etc.)

Donations may be brought directly to the food bank at 2645 Baylor Drive SE. Donations to support food banks in the hurricane’s path can be made to Roadrunner Food Bank by calling (505) 247-2052 (select option 4) or by giving on-line at www.rrfb.org. Volunteers are also being sought and should call to be scheduled.

Roadrunner also said that after being contacted Friday by the American Red Cross, it provided emergency food boxes to seven evacuees who have arrived in Albuquerque. These food boxes contain enough food to feed a family of four for approximately two to three days. Wattenbarger said, “If more evacuees arrive in New Mexico, we will be prepared to work with sheltering agencies to provide them access to food.”