Dallas, TX – Several Salvation Army units continue to provide support to firefighters and other first responders working to contain wildfires across West Texas. The Texas Forest Service is reporting that more than 200,000 acres have been destroyed by the fires that have spread quickly due to the combination of the extremely dry ground and gusting wind.
On Monday, April 11, two Salvation Army Disaster Canteens (mobile kitchens), manned by Officers, staff and volunteers from Lubbock and Abilene, again reported to the city of Guthrie, 90 miles East of Lubbock. About 350 miles to the South, three Canteens from El Paso, Big Spring and Odessa assisted firefighters in Fort Davis, where 40 to 50 homes have been destroyed and widespread electricity outages have been reported after numerous power poles burned.
Captain Michael Morton, The Salvation Army Incident Commander for West Texas, reported that meals were served in both locations throughout the day. “On Monday, The Salvation Army served 300 people breakfast, 635 lunch, and 523 dinner. In addition, 525 individuals received drinks, and 457 snacks were distributed. The Salvation Army will continue to provide assistance to those working to contain the wildfires, and the residents who have been affected, as long as we are needed".
The Disaster Canteen and staff from Odessa will return to Fort Davis on Tuesday morning and expect to serve lunch and dinner to 125 people, with primary responsibility being for survivors of the wildfires, as opposed to responders.
Monetary donations to support The Salvation Army Texas Wildfire Relief can be made by mail to P.O.Box 36607, Dallas, TX 75235, by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY or online at www.salvationarmytexas.org
For more information about The Salvation Army’s disaster response effort, please go to www.Facebook.com/SalvationArmyTexas, www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org, or www.salvationarmytexas.org.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 129 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org
About The Salvation Army