• Philip Burn

The Salvation Army Establishes Warehouse as Residents Return to West, Texas

Dallas, TX (April 21, 2013) – Four Salvation Army Disaster Canteens (mobile kitchens) continued service, Saturday, in West, Texas. Since response began in the late hours of Wednesday following the massive explosion, The Salvation Army has provided 2,371 meals, 1,987 drinks (coffee, soda, juice and water) and 1,050 snacks.

Residents were briefly allowed back to view their homes today and it is expected that the community will gradually be cleared by authorities to return permanently on Sunday. The Salvation Army, along with many other agencies, are preparing for this transition in focus, from the immediate needs of those affected by the disaster, to the longer term recovery.

Meanwhile, about 20 miles north in Waco, more than 100 volunteers worked on Saturday to help The Salvation Army at their staging warehouse. This warehouse, located at 101 Apron Rd in Waco, will be used to sort, store and then distribute supplies to be used in the response effort in West. The warehouse will be open daily from 8:00 AM until 7:00 PM. If you would like to volunteer at the warehouse, or for more information, please contact Jennifer Moya, Public Relations & Media Director for The Salvation Army in Waco, at (254) 379-2430. The Salvation Army is not accepting in-kind donations at this location.

The most effective way to support The Salvation Army’s ongoing response in West is by making a financial contribution:
• MAIL – please send checks to The Salvation Army, PO Box 36607, Dallas, TX 75235
• PHONE at 1-800-SAL-ARMY
• ONLINE at www.salvationarmytexas.org

As residents return to West, The Salvation Army has plans to establish Comfort Stations in the hardest hit neighborhoods. Each Comfort Station will have the ability to deliver refreshment and will also have at least one staff member trained in Spiritual and Emotional Care to provide counseling to individuals and families.                                                                                                

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 London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 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. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.