Claudia Hanrahan (left), vice president of Woodland Hills-based Oh Cal Foods, meets with Red Cross volunteer Colleen Beatty about local Subway franchises providing food for Red Cross shelter residents during a large-scale disaster.
By Julie Walmsley, Emergency and Disaster Response Volunteer
If a devastating earthquake — like the recent quakes in Haiti and Chile — jolts the Los Angeles area, the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles may be faced with serving more than 2 million meals a day to displaced residents. Where will all that food come from?
Thanks to a newly inked agreement with local Subway franchises in Los Angeles County, approximately 350,000 Red Cross disaster shelter residents may be eating freshly made turkey, roast beef, veggie and other sandwiches every day the shelters are open.
Red Cross volunteer Colleen Beatty, a marketing consultant who had previously worked with Subway, helped coordinate initial discussions between the Red Cross and OhCal Foods, the Woodland Hills-based development agency for Los Angeles area Subway franchises.
Now, in the event of a catastrophic disaster, each of the 578 Los Angeles area stores still operating will prepare 700 sandwiches a day, which will be distributed to residents being served by all L.A County Red Cross chapters.
Claudia Hanrahan, vice president of OhCal Foods, explains that Subway can mobilize to respond to a large-scale disaster because of its global resources and purchasing co-op.
“When the what-if scenario happens, our restaurants are able to get food from other regions,” said Hanrahan. “The franchisees are excited about the opportunity of helping our neighbors.”
Subway will also provide food and snacks to the Red Cross for shelters opened during seasonal disasters, such as wildfires and mudslides.
Alex Rose, Emergency & Disaster Response department agreements specialist, said the partnership was tested during the recent rainstorms. “Our Red Cross disaster teams opened evacuation centers at the exact same time in San Pedro and Sunland, and it was gratifying to know that meals were immediately available from Subway for everyone seeking refuge in our shelters.”
OhCal Foods, Subway franchises and Subway patrons recently supported international Red Cross disaster operations by generously donating to Red Cross Haiti relief efforts.
Tags: catastrophic disaster, disaster preparedness, earthquake response
