• Dulcinea Cuellar Kimrey

The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County provides meals and hydration to flooded residents

West Palm Beach, FL (28 August 2012) – As residents of Palm Beach County begin final assessment of damages brought on by Tropical Storm Isaac, The Salvation Army is prepared with meals and water.

Prepared to serve 1,000 hot meals and cold bottled water, two mobile units are responding to the Wellington and Lake Worth communities. 

City officials in Wellington have called in the National Guard to assist due to the massive flooding and potential for more heavy rains later today.  A large sinkhole about 4 feet deep has opened in the Acreage causing separation in the roadway.  In addition, Palm Beach County still has approximately 5,600 residents without power that hopefully can be restored by the days end.

Major Thomas McWilliams, Salvation Army Commander for Palm Beach County, says “The Salvation Army volunteers and staff are serving meals to those whom have been impacted by this natural disaster but most importantly are there for emotional and spiritual care for those needing prayer or a kind work.”

Relief efforts will extend throughout the impacted communities if needed. In the short-term aftermath of the storm, Salvation Army officers and staff will focus primarily on immediate needs providing food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care to impacted individuals and families.

“We encourage all residents to work cooperatively with city and county officials to report flooding and power outages or to request aide for their community,” McWilliams said.

Also in South Florida, The Salvation Army has served more than 1,200 meals since Isaac’s outer bands hit the area Saturday. Even Monday, The Salvation Army is facing a crisis of its own as the Miami Area Command is being flooded.

The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by this disaster to visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). Donors may also contribute $10 via their phone bill by text* messaging the word STORM to 80888, and confirming the donation with the word, “Yes.” Checks may be made out to The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, 2100 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33409. Please designate "2012 Hurricane Relief" on all checks.

· A $10 donation feeds a disaster survivor for one day
· A $30 donation provides one food box, containing staple foods for a family of four, or one household cleanup kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets and other cleaning supplies
· A $100 donation can serve snacks and drinks for 125 survivors and emergency personnel at the scene of a disaster
· A $250 donation can provide one hot meal to 100 people or keep a hydration station operational for 24 hours
· A $500 donation keeps a Salvation Army canteen (mobile feeding unit) fully operational for one day

At this point, in-kind donations are not being accepted. Used clothing and used furniture are seldom required during an incident. However, these gifts are vitally important in supporting the day-to-day work of your local Salvation Army. Please consider giving these items to your local Salvation Army Family store.

For the latest emergency disaster services news, please visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and follow the EDS team on Twitter @SalArmyEDS.  Interested parties may also visit www.salvationarmypalmbeachcounty.org and follow us at www.Facebook.com/SalArmyPBCo.

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About The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County
The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1922, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 89 years. Over 19,000 Palm Beach County residents 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 our local communities. For more information, go to www.salvationarmypalmbeachcounty.org  & www.Facebook.com/SalArmyPBCo

*A one time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Message & Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and TMobile. By participating you certify that you agree to the terms and conditions, that you are 18 yrs or older, or have parental permission, and have authorization from the account holder. Donations are collected for the benefit of The Salvation Army by the Innovative Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at igfn.org/t. Privacy policy: igfn.org/p. Text STOP to 80888 to stop; Text HELP to 80888 for help."