• Cynthia (Cindy) Fuller

The Salvation Army Helps Storm Victims in Arkansas and Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, OK– The Arkansas-Oklahoma Division of The Salvation Army was quick to arrive on the scenes of devastation after tornadoes hit Arkansas on Monday evening.   Services were provided in Vilonia, Hot Springs Village, and Fountain Lake, Arkansas on Tuesday.  They are working with Emergency Management to ensure other communities receive assistance as well.

 Conway Corps Officer, Captain Ben Walters, was joined by Major James Taylor, Central Arkansas Area Commander, overnight to serve snacks and hydration to those immediate responding to the storm in Vilonia.  The Little Rock canteen remained through Tuesday afternoon serving breakfast and lunch.   Major James Taylor coordinated with the American Red Cross and Baptist Ministries as they arrived on scene to assist with feeding.  Additionally, appreciation is given to Vilonia High School, US Foods, and Lake Ice who provided items to help with the meals.  Service was completed after lunch was served.  The Salvation Army remains in contact with Emergency Management to ascertain needs.

 The Fort Smith canteen was sent to Hot Spring Village and later to Fountain Lake to assist Major Ron Mott in Garland County.  They remained in Fountain Lake through the afternoon providing food and beverages for the residents and responders in that area.  The Fort Smith canteen will remain in Hot Springs until no longer needed.  Captain David Robinson, Pine Bluff, was dispatched to Hot Springs Tuesday evening to help Major Mott with evaluation of services needed in Piney and Royal. 

 The Salvation also worked with Oklahoma Emergency Management to facilitate four pallets of water and two pallets of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) be shipped from Tulsa Area Command to Stillwell, Oklahoma (Adair County) on Tuesday afternoon where residents are in a shelter due to flooding.  The water systems in parts of Adair and Cherokee counties have been contaminated with flood waters and will not be consumable for several more days.

 Mobile units across Arkansas and Oklahoma remain on stand-by to serve.  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 AOK Division Disaster Response.  Monetary donations will ensure The Salvation Army can meet the most immediate needs of those impacted by disaster. 

Contact:          Major James Taylor, The Salvation Army of Central Arkansas

501-580-4949 or james_taylor@uss.salvationarmy.org.

Major Ron Mott,  The Salvation Army of Hot Springs Arkansas

501-247-5507 or ron_mott@uss.salvationarmy.org