Indy nonprofits send relief for South Carolina flooding victims
In the wake of devastating flooding in South Carolina, nonprofits across Central Indiana are answering the call for help.
This weekend Midwest Food Bank and Thrive 360 will send 57,000 meals to Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia, S.C. In the past two days the South Carolina food bank has distributed more than 200,000 meals to flood victims, and the need is rising.
“This disaster is going to continue,” said Jill Madinger, executive director of Thrive 360. “It’s not something that’s going to be a one and done.”
Harvest Hope wants to deploy mobile food pantries throughout the region soon, spokesman Ash Little said, but the food bank will need more donations to do so.
Hundreds of people have been forced to relocate since the rains and historic flooding began. Cleanup could cost as much as $1 billion, a South Carolina senator warned on Wednesday.
Meals from Indiana — made with rice, soy, dry vegetables and vitamins — were loaded onto a trailer Thursday morning at Thrive 360's warehouse.
The meals, along with water, antibacterial wipes and other nonperishable foods, will be delivered by Midwest Food Bank staff members Sunday.
“The magnitude of the devastation in the wake of this disaster is quite significant," said John Whitaker, executive director of Midwest’s Indianapolis division. "Many families and individuals who are victims of this natural disaster are without the basic necessities of life."
Midwest Food Bank, a faith-based nonprofit founded in 2003, serves more than 750 agencies in four states. Thrive 360, formerly known as Kids Against Hunger of Central Indiana, is an international organization that packs and ships meals to communities around the world.
Three days ago more than 800 South Carolina residents fled their homes to shelters across the region. At least 19 people in South Carolina and North Carolina died in the storm.
The state was soaked by what experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called a "fire hose" of tropical moisture spun off by Hurricane Joaquin, which mostly missed the East Coast.
Flooding closed more than 500 roads and bridges in South Carolina. The National Guard dropped sandbags as residents scrambled to find shelter. A shortage of drinking water presented its own set of problems. More than 375,000 residents have been asked to boil and conserve water after a canal was damaged in two places.
To help with the relief efforts, Midwest Food Bank also has teamed up with Helping His Hands Disaster Response in Vincennes, Ind.
Helping His Hands will connect with South Carolina churches and emergency agencies to survey the damage. The nonprofit plans to coordinate with other Indiana church groups that want to help with ongoing relief efforts.
Indianapolis area residents who want to help can donate funds to Midwest Food Bank, Whitaker said.
Click the “donate” button and follow the instructions for designating to the South Carolina disaster.
Call Star reporter Cara Anthony at (317) 444-6049. Follow her on Twitter: @CaraRAnthony.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
