• Patricia James

Salvation Army Expands Role in Vermont With Assistance of Neighbor

Portland, ME (September 1, 2011) - While Salvation Army canteens continue serving in the communities of Rutland, Plymouth, Tyson and Ludlow, VT, plans are underway to deploy a canteen from Massachusetts to the town of Waterbury.

Meanwhile, Major Charles Balcom, Commander of The Salvation Army's Rutland Corps, is coordinating the organization's relief efforts in this storm-ravaged part of the state. In addition to overseeing the operations in Rutland, Plymouth, Tyson and Ludlow he has also been seeking ways to provide further assistance in Brattleboro, Manchester and Woodstock as roadways begin to open between the staging area of Rutland and other locations.

Since the canteens arrived on Tuesday, The Salvation Army has been able to provide 2,018 meals and snacks to residents affected by Tropical Storm Irene, which caused damage of historic proportions in Vermont. In addition, Salvation Army officers and volunteers have distributed 100 clean-up kits and will continue to make them available when new shipments arrive.

In Ludlow, Plymouth and Tyson, nearly 400 meals were served on Thursday under the direction of Lt. Chris Williams, from Derry, NH, and Lt. Jason Brake, from Lewiston, ME. Captain William Thompson, Commander of The Salvation Army's Burlington Corps, and his team provided 572 meals and beverages to flood victims in Rutland from the emergency canteen on Thursday. Altogether, more than 30 officers and volunteers have assisted with Salvation Army emergency relief crews.

The Rutland Rotary South provided funding for relief efforts in Rutland and a Rotary member donated storage space for water supplies.

The Salvation Army's Barre Corps has assisted over 55 people in near-by towns of Northfield, Berlin, Waterbury, and Roxbury that were affected by Irene. They provided backpacks to children who lost school supplies, prescription assistance, water, canned foods and vouchers to purchase clothing and house hold items at their thrift store.

Monetary donations to help The Salvation Army's hurricane relief efforts may be sent to:

The Salvation Army
Disaster Gift Processing Center
P.O. Box 1959
Atlanta, GA 30301
*Designation ‘2011 Hurricane Season'

• Credit card donations, please call: 1-800-SAL-ARMY
• Donate online: donate.salvationarmyusa.org/Irene
• Text to give: Text ‘STORM' to 80888 to make a $10 contribution.

Thank you!

Post Hurricane Irene, The Salvation Army continues to provide emergency relief services to storm and flood survivors in the Northeast United States, as well in other impacted areas in the Carolinas.

• Throughout the entire east coast, The Salvation Army deployed more than 70 emergency response vehicles, including 52 mobile canteens that can serve more than 1,500 meals per day.

• The Salvation Army has served nearly 150,000 meals, snacks and drinks to individuals in all states impacted by Irene, from the Carolinas to New England.

• In partnership with local, state and federal agencies, The Salvation Army has assisted in sheltering, handing out blankets and pillows, and providing food, water, emotional and spiritual counseling and damage assessment.
• The Salvation Army has been providing warm meals to evacuees and emergency responders from 15 mobile canteens in flood impacted Northeastern states including New York and Vermont.
• Salvation Army teams have deployed 37 mobile canteens throughout the coastal region of the Carolinas to provide food and drinks to community members.

The Salvation Army has deployed dozens of emergency relief teams and canteens to some of the hardest hit communities who need assistance with immediate emergency relief recovery where inland flooding, power outages and infrastructure damages remain.

• The Salvation Army is continuing to feed evacuees and emergency responders in Schenectady, Delhi, Roxbury, Margaretville, Fleischmanns, Deposit, Prattsville and Schoharie from five mobile canteens.
  • The Salvation Army is continuing to provide feeding support at the Montgomery County shelter in Amsterdam and the Schenectady High School shelter in Schenectady
• Two mobile canteens will be available in Franklin County, MA during the next few days to assist state emergency management officials. Previously, the Salvation Army had been supplying food, water and other supplies to two local emergency shelters and first responders.
• The Salvation Army is providing one semi-truck load of drinking water to the counties of Essex, Clinton and Schenectady, as well as staging 2,000 clean-up kits in Oneonta, NY.
• In response to state emergency requests, The Salvation Army is deploying two mobile canteens in Franklin County, MA, and mobile response workers are offering aid in various cities including Greenfield, Turner's Falls, Shelburne Falls, Charlemont, Montague, Bernardston, Northfield and more.
• The Salvation Army in Hampton Roads, VA is transitioning to case work assistance to provide aide in utility assistance, food supplements and other emergency needs.The Army previously provided more than 17,000 meals, drinks and snacks along with more than 250 clean-up kits.
• The Salvation Army's Freeport Corps in Nassau, NY is acting as a disaster respite center at the request of local officials. The Corps will be open for set hours, serving breakfast and lunch as well as providing water, clean up kits, and referral services.
• The Salvation Army provided more than 75,000 meals, snacks, and drinks in cities throughout New Jersey, and volunteers distributed more than 2,500 clean-up kits in preparation for the hard work ahead for flood victims.

 

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 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 The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.