• Philip Burn

Austin Volunteers Take The Wheel for The Salvation Army

Dallas, Texas (June 1 , 2015) – The Salvation Army mobile kitchen from Williamson County (Austin Area Command) is currently serving in San Marcos, Texas, a community working to recover from the destruction caused by record flooding. This unit may look like any other Salvation Army canteen, however it is unique in the fact that it is operated year-round by a committed team of volunteers.

Randy O’Dell, a resident of Williamson County located just north of Austin, heads up the volunteer team and has been the driving force behind this partnership. “I had been giving to The Salvation Army for many years and decided to get involved about three years ago. I wanted to expand my service outside of my own church and look at the bigger picture,” explains Randy. “I like that they are a Christian organization and have always admired all the good that is done by The Salvation Army.”

The Williamson County volunteer team has been deployed several times in the last month both locally, in and around Austin, and further afield. On Monday, June 1, the team served meals, snacks, and drinks in several areas of San Marcos bringing sustenance and relief to many people working on their homes.

The Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) in San Marcos was open on Monday and The Salvation Army from San Antonio provided food, drinks, and encouragement to those seeking assistance. Service at this location is expected to continue through Wednesday.

The Salvation Army laundry unit, located at 100 Carney Lane in Wimberley (78676), continues to provide the opportunity for people to wash their clothes and belongings. Additional emergency assistance has been provided to affected residents along with case management by The Salvation Army at the Wimberley MARC.

The statistics below present a snapshot of ongoing Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Service efforts in Texas:

    28,720 Meals
    44,119 Drinks
    15,380 Snacks
    11 Mobile Feeding Units (Canteens)
    102 Persons Sheltered
    Emotional & Spiritual Care to 716 individuals
    908 cleanup kits
    454 comfort kits
    4,339 hours of employee and volunteer service

Financial donations are the best way to support the ongoing relief operation. 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. Cash donations allow The Salvation Army to purchase product to quickly and efficiently meet the most urgent needs of disaster victims. Where possible, the purchases are made near the disaster site to stimulate the local economy and ensure quicker delivery.

Individuals can make a financial donation in support of The Salvation Army flood relief efforts:

• By phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
• Online at http://tsatx.org/floodandtornadorelief
• By texting TXFLOODS to 51555 (message and data rates may apply)Text HELP for help. Text STOP to unsubscribe.
• By Mail to The Salvation Army, PO Box 560001, Dallas, TX 75235

If you are interested in learning more about The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) in Texas, or to become a local disaster volunteer, please visit: www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.

For the most up-to-date emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army in Texas, please visit: www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and follow latest updates on Twitter @SalArmyTXEDS and Facebook at www.facebook.com/SalArmyTXEDS.

About The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services:
“The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” While every disaster is unique and creates its own special needs, the core of The Salvation Army's disaster program consists of several basic services. And while these services address many of the typical needs of a disaster survivor, Salvation Army disaster relief is also flexible. Our services are adapted to the specific needs of individuals and communities and scalable according to the magnitude of the disaster.

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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.