How Goya Foods Is Helping The Victims Of Hurricanes Ian And Fiona
The impacts of Hurricane Ian will be felt for a very long time. The category four storm made landfall in Southwest Florida last week, devastating that area, per CNN, and causing more damage as it crossed the state and continued on into the Carolinas. A minimum of 80 people died, innumerable homes were destroyed, and those left in the storm's wake are attempting to rebuild their lives amid very challenging circumstances. "We need everything," a sheriff's department spokeswoman in Southwest Florida told CNN.
Aid for Hurricane Ian victims, and for those in Puerto Rico hard hit by Hurricane Fiona — which slammed the American Territory on September 18, notes Axios – is very much needed right now. All natural disasters can be devastating, but as the Pan-American Health Organization notes, hurricanes are particularly problematic for food security, not only because they knock out power, and close markets and food outlets, but because they also disrupt supply chains and isolate communities.
Fortunately, FEMA is not the only organization that's rushing to provide food aid to those affected by both storms. The Red Cross has mobilized its volunteers to deliver food to Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian, as has Chef José Andrés' World Central Kitchen, reports the Tampa Bay Times. Additionally, one notable food company has also joined the ranks of those bringing food to victims of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona.
Goya Foods' initiative brings food to disaster victims
Goya Foods has donated over 80,000 pounds of food to those who need it most in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico following Hurricane Fiona, and the company is gearing up to deliver more food to those most affected by Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida, according to a PR Newswire press release. The Hispanic-owned company is headquartered in the U.S., and because of its many distribution centers in Florida, it's well-placed to provide food aid in that state, and throughout Latin America.
The company's Goya Gives donation program wasn't formed with recent disasters in mind, however. Goya had already contributed 4.5 million pounds of food in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, per the press release, and it provided more than 1 million pounds of food to Puerto Ricans impacted by Hurricane Maria. Goya Gives also brought much-needed nourishment to Haiti in the wake of its 2010 earthquake, and to victims of many previous hurricanes.
"Goya has always been at the forefront of disaster and humanitarian relief efforts. As Florida recovers, we want to ensure as much food as possible gets to those who need it the most," noted Frank Unanue, President of Goya Foods, Florida, in the press release. "Giving back to the communities we serve has always been a top priority for La Gran Familia Goya," added Bob Unanue, the company's CEO.