TPRF Provides US$40,000 to Feeding America for US Hurricane Victims
Assistance will provide more than 65,000 meals for people returning to devastated homes

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Los Angeles, October 2008 —The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) has contributed $40,000 to Feeding America, formerly named America’s Second Harvest, to provide truckloads of food to help people returning to their homes in devastated areas of Texas after Hurricane Ike.

Hurricane Ike and its predecessors Gustav and Dolly struck in regions already struggling with high poverty rates, stretching the resources of Feeding America’s network of food banks and other relief agencies that were already seeing a nationwide increase of 15% to 20% for relief services before the hurricanes hit.

“Disasters put yet another strain on families who face hunger issues every day,” noted Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of the Feeding America Network. “Thanks to the support of The Prem Rawat Foundation, local residents will have emergency food and supplies to help make it through these difficult days.”

Immediately after millions of Gulf Coast residents were evacuated, the Feeding America Network began delivering ready-to-eat food to them as well as to those who were able to remain in their homes but had to contend with massive damage and lack of water and electricity. As evacuees returned to their homes weeks later, many were confronted with the expenses of major structural damage, spoiled food and mounting bills, as well as depleted financial resources and jobs lost due to evacuating.

TPRF’s grant provided approximately 2,600 boxes of food to help families restock their pantries and replenish supplies destroyed by the storm or subsequent power outages. The Feeding America Network expects to provide assistance for those affected for at least four to six weeks.

Photos courtesy of the Houston Food Bank

About The Prem Rawat Foundation
The Prem Rawat Foundation was created in 2001 by Prem Rawat, known also as Maharaji, and has a dual mission of bringing his message of peace to people around the world and providing essential humanitarian aid to those in need. TPRF partners with other humanitarian organizations to bring food, water and rapid disaster relief where it is most needed. To learn more about TPRF’s humanitarian initiatives, Prem Rawat and his message of peace, please visit www.tprf.org.

About Feeding America (previously named America’s Second Harvest)
Feeding America is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through its network of more than 200 member food banks, Feeding America annually provides assistance to more than 25 million people in need, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each year, Feeding America secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products to support feeding programs at approximately 63,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs and Kids Cafés.  http://www.feedingamerica.org/.