Wheat for Tajikistan

VILLAGE OF WATERVILLE, Ohio (WUPW) - A local non-profit is continuing to feed children in needy countries, while preparing for disaster here at home.

Waterville-based International Services of Hope, commonly known as ISOH/Impact, is responding to a severe drought and food crisis in Tajikistan. Grain harvests are down 60-percent there and the Russian government has banned flour and grain exports, sending prices through the roof. ISOH/Impact and local farmers could be the only source of grain for thousands of people in a desperate nation.

"The president of Tajikistan has warned his people and he's getting them ready,” said ISOH/Impact Humanitarian Logistics Director, Byron Wynn. “He's telling them to put away two years of food because there won't be any food for the next 2 years or so.”

An emergency shipment of 10 containers containing more the 210 tons of food are going out. At the same time ISOH is preparing to help here at home as Hurricane Earl threatens to lash the East Coast.

ISOH Impact's Bucket Brigade is already filling buckets with food and cleaning supplies and accepting donations so they can step in as soon as they are needed.

"We have water ready to go. We have cleaning supplies ready to go. But if that Hurricane hits we're going to need the local community to step up and do what they can," said Wynn. "This is about who we are as human beings and Americans. When people are in need we step up."

ISOH/Impact is accepting food and cleaning supplies at their warehouse at 905 Farnsworth Rd. in Waterville.

You can also donate money via text message. Simply send the message "Giveten ISOH" to 20222.