• Jennifer Dodd

Salvation Army Enters Second Day of Expanded Oklahoma Tornado Relief Efforts

June 2, 2013, 11:00 a.m. (Moore, OK) -- The Salvation Army is one of the nation’s largest federally recognized emergency disaster services agencies, providing relief to 1-2 million disaster survivors and first responders each year in the United States.

When initiating any disaster relief operation, the Army’s first aim is to meet the basic needs of both survivors and first responders. The Salvation Army ministers act as a means of expressing God’s love to those in need. The Salvation Army’s primary goals are to offer:
• Material Comfort
• Physical Comfort
• Spiritual and Emotional Support

In Oklahoma, Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services teams continue to serve and minister to survivors of the May tornado outbreak that devastated multiple communities around the Oklahoma City area.

UPDATES:
For the latest updates on The Salvation Army’s response to this disaster, there are many options to follow:

• disaster.SalvationArmyUSA.org
• www.salvationarmyaok.org
• Blog.SalvationArmyUSA.org
• www.salvationarmytoday.org
• www.youtube.com/salarmyeds
• http://salvationarmytoday.org

Since May 19, 2013 The Salvation Army has provided 43,441 meals, 58,738 drinks, and 45,109 snacks, 22 Canteens (mobile feeding units), 1,080 Clean Up and 1,826 Comfort (hygiene) kits, and prayer with 5,626 persons. More than 9,705 hours have been logged by volunteers, employees and officers.

UPDATES BY LOCATION:
The Salvation Army will continue to provide relief services for tornado survivors indefinitely. Food, hydration, emotional and spiritual care and other supplies are being provided to residents of the heavily impacted areas including:
Canadian County (El Reno, Mustang, Union City) Cleveland County (Little Axe), Lincoln County (Carney), Pottawatomie County (Shawnee and surrounding area) and Moore.
• Overall, The Salvation Army has provided food and hydration, as well other items including:

• Clean-up Supplies
• Hygiene Products
• Household Goods
• Financial Assistance to Tornado Survivors
• Salvation Army Family Stores Clothing Vouchers to Tornado Survivors

MARCS (Multi-Agency Resource Centers)
Hours:  Doors Open at 9:00 a.m.
The Salvation Army is providing:
• Financial Assistance to Tornado Survivors
• Salvation Army Family Stores Clothing Vouchers to Tornado Survivors

Lincoln County:
Carney: Carney High School – Rooms 5, 6, 7
  304 S. Carney Road
  Carney, OK

Pottawatomie County:
Shawnee: Gordon Cooper Vo-Tech (Sky Labs 1 & 2 and Dining Facility)
  1 John C. Bruton Boulevard
  Shawnee, OK
  I-40 and Highway 18

Cleveland County:
Little Axe: Little Axe Elementary School
  2000 168th Avenue NE
  Norman, OK (Highway 9 and 168th)

Moore: Westmoore High School
  12613 S. Western Ave.
  Moore, OK
 
IN KIND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (Bulk Distribution) of In-Kind Gifts
Cleveland County: Revival of Christ Church
Distribution begins at 10:00 a.m.
  1005 SW 4th Street
  Moore, OK

Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads:
Distribution 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
  7000 Crossroads Boulevard
  Oklahoma City, OK
  (Located on SE Corner of mall in former JC Penney store)
Directions: Use I-240 entrance. Drive behind the AMC Theatre and park at the JC Penney Entrance.

FIXED FEEDING LOCATIONS:
• Canteen located at Revival of Christ Church, 1005 SW 4th Street, Moore.
• Westmoore High School MARC (Multi-Agency Recovery Center) at 12613 S. Western Ave., Oklahoma City.
• Little Axe Elementary at 2000 168th Avenue NE, Norman (Highway 9 and 168th).

ROVING FEEDING FROM CANTEENS:
• At 10 a.m. Salvation Army canteens began patrolling the following areas, offering food and hydration as well as spiritual and emotional care by trained counselors: Moore, Midwest City, Southeast and Southwest 59th Street areas of Oklahoma City, Union City, El Reno, and Mustang.

NATIONALLY:
• The Salvation Army maintains a fleet of disaster vehicles and supply warehouses across the United States to enable speedy mobilization.
• There are more than 300 emergency response vehicles in the eastern and southern United States alone and nearly 600 units nationwide.
• These units are able to serve thousands of meals and drinks per day when operating at full capacity.
• In addition to food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care, The Salvation Army is also prepared to provide:

• Clean-up Kits (containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies)
• Hygiene Kits
• Household Goods
• Financial Assistance to Tornado Survivors
• Salvation Army Family Stores Clothing Vouchers to Tornado Survivors

DONATIONS:
Monetary donations are the most critical need as supplies and personnel move into the areas of greatest need.

• Donors are encouraged to give online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or by calling
1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).
• 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.”*
• Checks may be made out to:
The Salvation Army Disaster Relief
PO BOX 2536
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Please designate “Oklahoma May Tornadoes” on all checks.

Your donations make a real difference.
• 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.

In-Kind:
The Salvation Army is not accepting unsolicited in kind donations for the Oklahoma tornado relief operation.
• Corporations, foundations and others interested in donating to The Salvation Army response effort should contact Lanita Lloyd at Lanita_Lloyd@uss.salvationarmy.org or 404-728-1300 ext. 10680.
• Due to the high expense and time demands associated with delivering your gently used household goods and clothing (gifts-in-kind), The Salvation Army cannot guarantee that any individual gifts-in-kind donated will be sent to the disaster area. In times of disaster, our stores fill these needs from existing, pre-sorted stock. By continuing to donate gently used household goods to your local Salvation Army store, you not only help your community, you help us prepare for future disaster relief needs. To find your nearest drop-off location, please visit www.satruck.org.

VOLUNTEERS:
• Those interested in volunteering should register at www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org. Please note that disaster service training is a prerequisite for volunteering in a disaster zone and not all registered volunteers will be called on to serve.

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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 a broad 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 T-Mobile. 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.