• Cynthia (Cindy) Fuller

The Salvation Army Serves the Outskirts of the Oklahoma City Metro

Shawnee, OK (May 27, 2013) The towns surrounding Central Oklahoma are still reeling from the Sunday, May 19, 2013 tornadoes. Homes and businesses throughout Pottawatomie and Lincoln counties, suffered serious and at times, catastrophic damage. Salvation Army mobile feeding units have been providing food, water and emotional and spiritual care to these often overlooked areas since last Sunday evening.

"We have been driving down every back road looking for those in need," said Lt. Philip Canning, Corps Officer off the Shawnee Salvation Army.  "Down each of these roads is a home or a neighborhood that is struggling to rebuild.  We want them to know that we are here for them for as long as we are needed."

Down one of those gravel roads were two homes: One completely devastated and abandoned, another with roof damage, downed trees, and destroyed vehicles.  Salvation Army feeding teams found a group of neighbors helping the residents’ clear away brush and collect the family's personal items that littered the yard.  Lt. Canning embraced the family with prayer and gave the group a much needed meal. Tomorrow his team will return with gloves and shovels to join the cleanup.  Today, he has more miles to cover and more families to feed.

Since Sunday, May 19, The Salvation Army has provided 25,783 meals, 40,153 drinks, 32,091 snacks, and prayed with 2,695 persons since Sunday, May 19. Over 6,300 man-hours have been logged by volunteers, employees and officers.

Monetary Donations are needed. It is easy to give to The Salvation Army:
• By phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
• Online at www.salvationarmyusa.org
• By mail: The Salvation Army - Disaster Relief  P.O. BOX 2536  Oklahoma City, OK 73102.  Please make checks payable to "The Salvation Army" and clearly marked "May 2013 Oklahoma Tornadoes."
• You can also text the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone; to confirm your gift, respond with the word “Yes.”*

Currently, The Salvation Army is not accepting in-kind donations from the general public for disaster relief operations.   In-kind donations require sorting, boxing, palletizing, storage, and delivery to the disaster location.  All of these activities can be costly and time consuming, and therefore may delay service delivery.  Used clothing and used furnishings are not needed for disaster relief.

However, The Salvation Army depends upon your donation of used clothing and other items to support local programming.  Please consider donating your used clothing to your local Salvation Army Family Store.

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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.

*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.