Relief Efforts Underway In Houston and Southeast Texas, In Wake of Tropical Storm Imelda Flooding

As the greater Houston area copes with the devastation and flooding wreaked by Tropical Storm Imelda, our hearts go out to all those affected and displaced. Many people have reached out to FARE to ask how they can help families managing food allergies in the affected areas.As relief efforts get underway, FARE encourages the food allergy community to come together to assist those affected by the storm.

We have been in touch with the Houston Food Bank, who is working to collect and distribute resources and donations to impacted Texans in the 7 counties declared to be disaster counties: Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and San Jacinto.

Monetary as well as food donations will have the greatest impact. 

• Secure monetary donations can be at www.houstonfoodbank.org/donatenow.
• Following is the Houston Food Bank’s list of most-needed items for donation:
  • Peanut butter
  • Crackers
  • Granola bars and other protein snacks
  • Canned tuna – (preferably pull top)
  • Canned soup and ravioli – (preferably pull top)
  • Paper towels
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper plates/cups/utensils
  • Cleaning products

Additionally, FARE recommends food allergy-friendly donations, such as:

• Snack foods free of the top 9 allergens (including sesame)
• Peanut butter substitutes (i.e. soy butter, sunflower seed butter, almond butter)
• Milk substitutes (i.e. shelf stable non-dairy rice, oat, coconut milks; canned unsweetened coconut milk; canned unsweetened coconut cream)
• Fruit cups/canned fruit/fruit squeezy packs/dried fruit
• Canned veggies or beans
• Rice
• Cereal

These items can be donated to the Houston Food Bank at 535 Portwall, Houston, Texas 77029 or in the Red Barrels at local grocery stores.

Please note that due to the safety of those they serve, the Houston Food Bank is unable to accept the following: 

• Open packages
• Homemade food items
• Perishable foods
• Baby food
• Items with “expired” dates
• Clothes
• Mattresses
• Furniture

For anyone interested in hosting a Food & Fund Raiser for the Houston Food Bank, they can visit the following link:

https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/ways-to-give/host-foodfund-drive

This is where individuals will be able to register their food drive, request supplies, and find many other resources to help with their campaign.