Tampa, Fla (August 28, 2017) – In what is being called one of the largest natural disasters in U.S. history, The Salvation Army of Florida continues to deploy resources to Texas to help assist with the Hurricane Harvey relief and recovery efforts.
On Wednesday, The Salvation Army will deploy nine mobile kitchens to Texas to serve in the relief and recovery efforts. The mobile kitchens are currently making their way to Pensacola where they will convoy to Texas.
The mobile kitchens are from Ocala, Leesburg, Orlando, Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, Palm Beach County, Tallahassee and Jacksonville.
Each of the canteens are staffed with trained Salvation Army personnel, officers and volunteers ready to assist those in need. The canteens are stocked with 500 meals which will be ready to be served immediately in the affected areas. After deployment, the mobile canteens have the ability to restock and move throughout the area getting to the people most impacted.
“We’re happy to send out a team, having been in an appointment that has been affected by natural disasters,” said Major Ken Fagan, Pensacola Corps officer.
For Lt. Will Conley, the corps officer in Leesburg, helping during the disaster is intensely personal.
Conley came through The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center prior to his training to become an officer, or pastor, for The Salvation Army.
“Because I’m a product of The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitations Center, men and women who had no idea who I was met me at the worse place in my entire life, took me in, and didn’t have judgement and met me in the state I was in,” Conley said. “I was in a crisis and The Salvation Army was able to meet me in that crisis. It’s a blessing to do that for someone else and help fulfill what I believe God wants out of me.”
A standard Salvation Army disaster deployment is 14 days. The Salvation Army expects to have several waves of volunteers and staff serving throughout the state of Texas and parts of the Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi division.
Last year, Salvation Army teams from Texas came to help Florida recover from hurricane Matthew.
“We are honored to reciprocate representing with the heart of Floridians during this unprecedented disaster,” said Kevin Smith, Emergency Disaster Services director for The Salvation Army of Florida.
The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation. Monetary donations are flexible, can be used immediately in response to a crisis and allows disaster relief organizations to purchase exactly what is needed, when it’s needed.
To make a financial donation to support the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts please go to www.helpsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800- SAL-ARMY. You may also mail checks to The Salvation Army, PO BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301. Please designate “Hurricane Harvey” on all checks or via text by texting STORM to 51555.
At this point, in-kind donations are not being accepted. Used clothing and used furniture may not be required during this incident, but these gifts are vitally important in supporting the day-to-day work of The Salvation Army. Please consider giving these items to The Salvation Army’s Family Store or dial 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825).
For the latest emergency disaster services news, please visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and follow the disaster services team on Twitter @SalArmyEDS. You may also visit www.salvationarmyflorida.org, www.facebook.com/TheSalvationArmyFloridaDivision or @salarmyfla and @salarmyflaeds on Twitter for the latest information on how Florida teams are involved in the relief and recovery efforts in Texas.