• Randall Thomas

Flood Relief Efforts Continue for The Salvation Army of Wilkes-Barre

Wilkes-Barre, PA (September 14, 2011) - The Salvation Army of Wilkes-Barre, PA has provided nearly 10,000 meals since Tropical Storm Lee hit Northeast Pennsylvania area.  Feeding sites are currently operating at The Salvation Army West Pittston Corps Community Center, Brookside Street in Wilkes-Barre, Chester Avenue in Wilkes-Barre, the West Nanticoke Fire Company, and the Shickshinny Fire Company.  

Meals are being prepared in the kitchen shared by The Salvation Army Wilkes-Barre Corps Community Center and The Salvation Army Kirby Family House for homeless families at 17 South Pennsylvania Avenue.   A warehouse for bulk item donations and clean-up kits has been set up in Hanover Township.  Eventually the warehouse will host the Incident Command Center for all Salvation Army relief operations across Northeast Pennsylvania, as efforts are underway in many areas throughout the Wyoming Valley.  A tractor trailer feeding unit will also begin to cook meals from this site.

There are currently six Salvation Army emergency response vehicles (canteens) – from Wilkes-Barre, East Stroudsburg, Chambersburg, Huntington WV, Marion OH, and Fredricksburg, MD – serving meals in the Wyoming Valley.  Meals for The Salvation Army West Pittston Corps Community Center are being prepared by volunteers and staff at The Salvation Army Scranton Corps Community Center, while meals for all other feeding locations are being prepared at The Salvation Army in Wilkes-Barre.

Tropical Storm Lee, coming on the heels of Hurricane Irene, has kept The Salvation Army emergency disaster teams busy.  The Salvation Army began feeding people at Lake Lehman High School and the Noxen Fire Company on August 31^st and continued until September 4^th.  Captains Doug and Patty Richwine, commanding officers/pastors of The Salvation Army Wilkes-Barre Corps Community Center, oversaw the relief efforts until September 13^th when a team from The Salvation Army Southern Territory assumed the Incident Command responsibilities. From September 10^th to 12th, Salvation Army representatives from within The Salvation Army Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Division helped with the relief efforts.  While no longer serving on the Incident Command Team, the Richwines continue in their regular duties as commanding officers and pastors of their church congregation and community center operations.

The Incident Command Team from The Salvation Army Southern Territory includes  Major Ed Binnix, from Bowling Green, KY; Lt. Jason Burns, from Memphis, TN; Captain Patrick Richmond, from Nashville, TN; Lt. Dan Nelson, from Danville, KY; and Captain Sally Love, from Richmond, KY.

Flood victims in need of clothing should visit the local Red Cross office for assistance. They will receive a voucher to take to The Salvation Army, 17 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilkes-Barre for processing and fulfillment.

Clean up kits are also available at The Salvation Army, 17 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilkes-Barre.

Items desperately needed include food, beverages, paper products, and cleaning products.  They can be dropped off at The Salvation Army, 17 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilkes-Barre.

Individuals interested in volunteering, should contact Jennifer Reich at 570-824-8741.  To date, Salvation Army volunteers have served more than 1,100 hours.  One volunteer, Marie Meade, has volunteered almost every day since Hurricane Irene.

Financial donations to The Salvation Army can be made online by visiting www.SalvationArmyPendel.org;  via text, by sending the keyword STORM to80888 using a mobile phone, (A oneâ??time donation of $10 will be billed to your mobile phone bill. Messaging & data rates may apply. Donations are collected for The Salvation Army by mobilecause.com. Reply STOP to 80888 to stop. Reply HELP to 80888 for help. For terms, see www.igfn.org/t.); by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY; or by sending a check to The Salvation Army Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Divisional Headquarters at 701 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123.  Donations should be marked "The Salvation Army Disaster Relief."