Jackson, MS (May 5, 2011) - The Salvation Army will be deploying its brand new 20,000 meal a day field kitchen for the first time on Friday. The kitchen will be going to Hamilton, AL.
Last week the Hackleburg, Alabama school that houses K-12 was destroyed by the tornado. In order to complete the school year the school year Hackleburg students will attend a temporary school at First Baptist Church of Hackleburg. The church while capable of hosting the children for classes cannot provide the commercial kitchen necessary of producing 500-600 meals per day. For the remainder of the school year, the field kitchen will serve as the kitchen for the school.
The 52’ field kitchen has two commercial tilt skillets, walk in refrigerator, food prep areas, convection ovens, and service windows. Staff from the school will operate the kitchen.
Even as relief and recovery work continues in Alabama and Mississippi and The Salvation Army is gearing up for Mississippi River flood response, The Salvation Army is deploying the field kitchen to ensure that children can learn with a hot meal filling their stomach.
The field kitchen is one of three of its kind in The Salvation Army’s Southern Territory. Field kitchens in Florida and Texas can be deployed to support feeding operations along the Mississippi River if needed in the coming days.
“While our resources for service delivery are stretched, we are undergirded by the stronger resources of The Salvation Army across the country,” stated Bill Feist, Emergency Disaster Services Coordinator for Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. “Of concern is the financial strain the response is having upon our ability to serve across the south.”
If you would like to help victims of the tornadoes and floods please give on-line to: www.salvationarmyusa.org and mark them for Disaster Response or text “GIVE” to 80888 or you can give by calling 1-800-Sal-Army.
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Financial donations are needed to support disaster relief efforts. The Salvation Army asks those who want to help to visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY and designate April 2011 Tornado Outbreak. Donors may text “GIVE” to 80888. Checks may be made out to The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 100339, Atlanta, GA 30384-0339. Monetary donations will ensure The Salvation Army can meet the most immediate needs of those impacted by disaster.
About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 33 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year. The Salvation Army provides food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, and outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing, shelter and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 9,000 communities nationwide. For more information go to http://www.salvationarmyusa.org, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or send a check to your local Salvation Army earmarked for disaster relief.