Tastefully Yours launches Wings of Relief to support humanitarian effort for US Eastern States.

Thursday 15th November 2012

Atlanta-based inflight catering business Tastefully Yours has launched a humanitarian initiative, named Wings of Relief, to support the victims of Hurricane Sandy which swept through New York, New Jersey and other US Eastern states at the end of October.

Donations of shelf stable food items, baby food, nappies, warm clothes and other essential personal items are being loaded onto private flights departing from all Atlanta area airports and headed to New Jersey. On arrival the packages are being met by Mike McGain a local police chief who is coordinating with Jet Aviation to distribute the items to local shelters and those most in need.

The initiative was the brainchild of Tastefully Yours Executive Sous Chef Jameson Penn who set up an initial collection point at Tastefully Yours. "It was dreadful to see those homes destroyed and families left with literally nothing. While I'm carrying on with my daily routine these displaced families are experiencing real hardship, I just wanted to do something positive to help," said Jameson about the operation.

Jameson has also enlisted the support of Signature Flight Support which has offered both its Peachtree and Fulton County facilities as donation collection centres. In addition Signature is requesting flights heading into the Eastern states area to transport supplies.

The inaugural flight departed Fulton County Airport on 14 November with over 300 pounds of clothing, toiletries and other personal amenities, with several additional flights scheduled to depart later this week. Donations are being received from airport employees, local flight departments, the Salvation Army, the general public and even incoming flights. Corporate jets from leading Atlanta blue chip companies are supporting the task by flying the packages to Teterboro, New Jersey.

Looking to the future Jameson is planning to meet with aircraft owners, FBOs and international catering companies to set up a network of centres that will help provide immediate relief for future natural disasters where ever they may occur. "Unfortunately we are increasingly experiencing this kind of crisis and the Wings of Relief initiative will aim to be ready and prepared to deal with the next situation when it arises," concludes Jameson.

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