Food Allergy, Food, Sandy

Central Park, NYC, November 4, 2012

*UPDATED: As of 12:30 Nov 6, 2012*

One of the big questions on my mind after Hurricane Sandy has been about those of us who need may specialty foods/medications (like anyone with food allergies, Celiac Disease FPIES, EoE, diabetes): how and where can they get it after such a major storm? After days and days without power (some may not have power until the second week of November) even the most prepared of us will be running out of supplies.

Behind the scenes here at Allergic Girl, there has been a flurry of emails and calls with food allergy, Celiac disease advocates, community leaders, medical professionals and food manufacturers. There is a massive desire to help but there is no coordinated way, yet, to do it. So here is the information I have read about or collected so far and the list is growing.  

*Please note: These are not endorsements. Follow up directly with these links and companies and ask them if they can accept specialty foods.*

NEW YORK CITY DONATIONS for FOOD MANUFACTURES ONLY:

I spoke with Leigh Lagrosa of the Food Bank of NYC and they are accepting shelf-stable, allergy-friendly goods from food manufacturers only. They serve all five boroughs of NYC.  Erin Smith of Gluten-Free Fun posted that conversation (Thank you, Erin!)  If you are a food manufacturer, here’s where you can send goods and donations to the Food Bank of NYC:

Leigh Lagrosa
Food Sourcing Liaison
Food Bank of NYC
355 Food Center Drive
Bronx, NY 10474
t: 718.991.4300, ext. 3335
c: 646.265.5099
llagrosa@foodbanknyc.org


NEW JERSEY:

I’ve read on Captain Jack's Peanut-Free Pirates Facebook page that these two hard-hit townships food banks were accepting donations from individuals.

I called The Community Food Bank of NJ as did FAAN and Theresa Forsman, Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations of The Community Food Bank of NJ said they absolutely will accept shelf-stable, allergy-friendly goods and donations and you can send them to:

The Community Food Bank of NJ
31 Evans Terminal,
Hillside, NJ 07205
Tel: (609) 383-8843
http://www.njfoodbank.org/

The Food Allergy & Asthma Support Group of North New Jersey's Group Leader Lisa Giuriceo spoke with these two food banks who said they can also accept shelf-stable, allergy-friendly goods and donations:


The Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Inc.
3300 Route 66
Neptune, NJ 07753
Tel: 732.918.2600
www.foodbankmoc.org/

Long Island Cares Inc.
10 Davids Drive (Harry Chapin Way)
Hauppauge, NY 11788-2039
Tel: 631l582l.FOOD
http://www.licares.org/

* When sending donations please mark "Hurricane Sandy/Food Allergies"*

BLOGGERS:

Heidi Bayer of Brooklyn Allergy Mom wrote this post - thank you Heidi!

Erin Smith at Gluten-Free Fun put together a very comprehensive post on how to help - thanks Erin!

Kelly Courson at Celiac Chicks also wrote a very helpful disaster preparedness post - thanks Kel!

Captain Jack’s Peanut-Free Pirates on Facebook posted about this neat idea from Good And Messy about creating labels for your donation so the recipients know it is special food!

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If you have more places to send food, are coordinating something near you or want to help, post a comment or post a comment on my Facebook page at Allergic Girl.

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DOCTORS:

One other thought: have an allergist that you love? Tell them about these resources for their patients that might need assistance.

We are in this together.