GLWD Delivers 'Sandy Bags' and More to New Yorkers in Need

Despite having no power at agency headquarters in SoHo in the days following Hurricane Sandy, God's Love We Deliver worked tirelessly to ensure that as many people affected by the storm as possible had access to nutritious food. Staff and volunteers walked and biked across bridges and across town to reach the agency's darkened building and put together emergency food kits, dubbed "Sandy bags" for their clients. The phones at God's Love were down, but dedicated volunteers came knocking, offering to help. Despite the storm, God's Love was able to deliver 8,000 meals and 2,300 "Sandy Bags" to all five boroughs this past week.

Working with flashlights, a small team harnessed limited resources to provide emergency food for thousands of vulnerable New York City residents. In addition to reaching the clients of God's Love, the agency also coordinated with other relief providers to distribute food where needed. With the support of many, God's Love We Deliver was able to:

· Assemble and distribute 2,300 emergency meal kits containing non-perishable food items.

· Deliver 8,000 meals to evacuees and others displaced by the storm.

· God's Love provided meals to Project Hospitality on Staten Island, the Bowery Mission, the Community Kitchen & Food Pantry in West Harlem, and to St. John's University

· God's Love delivered to the homes of 750 clients, who were grateful for their food and humbled us by their concern for our safety out on the road.

This work was the result of incredible dedication and resourcefulness. For example, our computer server was moved to a staff member's home in Queens where power was available. There, our distribution manager was able to create delivery routes.

"On behalf of thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers at risk for hunger during Hurricane Sandy, thank you," says Karen Pearl, President & CEO of God's Love We Deliver. "Once again, the God's Love community has shown incredible leadership, and affirmed this organization's role as an essential food resource and emergency provider for our amazing city."

"For 26 years, neighbors and friends have come to help at the most desperate of times. Thanks to our committed volunteers, friends and supporters, we were able to deliver to hundreds of people during this crisis," says David Ludwigson, Chief Development Officer at God's Love. "We will always remember Hurricane Sandy, because of its devastation, but also because it was such a time of strength, unity and dedication from our caring God's Love community."

On behalf of thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers at risk for hunger during Hurricane Sandy, thank you. Once again, the God's Love community has shown incredible leadership, and affirmed this organization's role as an essential food resource and emergency provider for our amazing city. Now, as we rebuild our food reserves, please consider supporting this work by making a donation. To donate, visit www.glwd.org/donate.

God's Love is the New York metropolitan area's leading not-for-profit provider of life-sustaining meals and nutrition counseling for people living with life-threatening illnesses. God's Love We Deliver is dedicated to cooking – and delivering – the specific, nutritious meals a client's severe illness and treatment so urgently require. God's Love supports families by providing meals for the children and senior caregivers of its clients. All of the agency's services are provided free of charge, and in its history of more than 25 years, God's Love We Deliver has never had a waiting list.

For more information, visit www.godslovewedeliver.org. Follow God's Love on Facebook and follow them on Twitter, @godslovenyc.

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