• Philip Burn

The Salvation Army Meeting Unmet Needs in Johnson County following Tornado

DALLAS (May 18, 2013) – The Salvation Army continues to respond in both Johnson and Hood Counties after powerful tornadoes caused significant damage on Wednesday night. Staff and volunteers provided meals, snacks and drinks from three Salvation Army mobile kitchens on Thursday and Friday. More than 600 meals and snacks have been served in addition to 950 drinks, to survivors and first responders.

In Cleburne, The Salvation Army response on Friday focused on providing assistance at a 44 unit trailer park located a few miles outside of the city. Many of the relief agencies and resulting media attention have focused on larger, more affluent communities that sustained significant damage to property and power lines during the storm. On Thursday, The Salvation Army was made aware of the situation at the trailer park and the immediate needs of the families there, the majority whom do not have any insurance. Several units were completely destroyed while many trailers sustained structural damage to their roof and walls.

The Salvation Army delivered hygiene kits to families in the community before serving dinner from the mobile kitchen on Thursday evening. Elizabeth Aranguren, The Salvation Army Service Center Director in Cleburne, observed that many of the units are in need of immediate repairs in order to protect against further rain and storms in the forecast. “Some of the homes have been destroyed by the tornado but many are still standing and have large holes that need to be repaired. The Salvation Army is committed to helping these people, many who have nowhere else to turn,” she explained. “We are working to secure building materials and tools so that we can help these people repair their homes.”

Additionally, Salvation Army volunteers delivered two food boxes containing non-perishables to each home on Thursday afternoon. The area has been without power since the storm resulting in the loss of all food stored in refrigerators and freezers. Staff and volunteers went door to door delivering the boxes to grateful individuals and families who have so far received very little assistance.

Christy Kidd and her two children, Caitlyn and Kody, whose home remained untouched by the tornado only a mile away, arrived just as The Salvation Army truck pulled up. “We wanted to see if there is anything we can do to help. I know if we were in a similar situation we would hope that other people do the same for us,” she said. The family joined The Salvation Army staff and volunteers as they delivered the food boxes. “Our pastor was talking just last week about the ways that we can help and serve others,” commented Christy. “Thank you to The Salvation Army for what you are doing here.”

Financial donations can be made in the following ways to support The Salvation Army’s response to the North Texas tornadoes:
• 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

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.

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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.