Hurricane Florence food drive provides relief ahead of Thanksgiving

During Thanksgiving, when most families are eager to get together, watch some football and fill their craving for some good, home-cooked meals, there are still many who are barely able to get by. This is especially true for victims of Hurricane Florence, which made landfall on September 14 in the mid-Atlantic region, leaving many under a state of emergency due to evacuations, rising floodwaters and thousands of residents without power. Most tragic of all, dozens of people lost their lives as a result of this devastating storm. Areas such as New Bern and Wilmington in North Carolina were especially hit hard.

“Because we have an office within five miles of most Americans, we experience natural disasters side by side with our neighbors and co-workers from California to North Carolina,” said Dan Gonzalez, regional director at H&R Block. “Beyond its impact to our offices and associates in the area, Hurricane Florence also spurred us to help.”

One way H&R Block associates extended a helping hand to those impacted by the hurricane was through partnering with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to organize an office food drive. Over two dozen H&R Block offices throughout North Carolina held a food drive to ensure no victims of Hurricane Florence would go hungry during Thanksgiving. The offices delivered a total of 450 pounds of donated goods to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Additionally, 10 H&R Block associates from the Raleigh, Fayetteville, New Bern, Jacksonville and Greenville offices donated their time to help distribute food at the Civic Center in Trenton. Additionally, the H&R Block in Elizabeth City, owned by franchisee M.C. Brewer, pitched in by helping the Food Bank of the Albemarle collect canned goods and cleaning supplies.

“Hurricane Florence had a devastating effect on central and eastern North Carolina. The Food Bank will be there for the long rebuilding process thanks to the impact made by organizations like H&R Block,” said Elizabeth Moss, food and fund drive coordinator for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. “Community support through virtual food drives, physical food drives, and volunteering enables us to ensure our mission that no one goes hungry in central and eastern North Carolina, and we are so grateful.”

Several H&R Block associates from other parts of the country such as Florida and New York hosted a virtual office food drive to benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina as well. The virtual office food drive raised over $3,500 in donations which allowed H&R Block associates to browse the aisles of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina website to buy much needed items including single serving meals. The amount collected during the virtual office food drive will allow the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to serve more than 17,500 meals to neighbors in need. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina can provide $10 worth of food or the equivalent of five meals.

“In a time of need, our team stood up to help one of our communities. It makes me very proud to know that I work with such great people who care about the communities where they live and work and being good neighbors,” said Gonzalez.