Charities Solicit Stockpiled Food

At least two hunger-relief charities hope to benefit from the Y2K crisis that never was.

Second Harvest, the country’s largest chain of food banks, and the International Union of Gospel Missions, a national network of shelters and rescue missions, are asking Americans to donate the food, water, and household goods they may have stockpiled as a precaution against potential year-2000 computer-related problems.

Officials at both organizations cite statistics that indicate that more than 4 out of 10 American households had planned to stock up on food and other basic staples. Three-quarters of those households, surveys found, planned to have at least a month’s worth of supplies on hand.

Now Second Harvest — which calls its campaign “Y Go 2 Waste” — and the International Union are both encouraging donors to make gifts of their surplus goods to local charities.