• Philip Burn

The Salvation Army Begins Transition to Long-Term Recovery in Texas

Dallas, Texas (June 5, 2015) – After 39 days of consecutive disaster relief work in several areas of Texas, The Salvation Army is beginning the transition from emergency assistance to long-term support.

Since April 27 The Salvation Army has provided:
• 31,872 meals (hot & cold)
• 54, 248 drinks (coffee, soda, juice, water)
• 26,105 snacks (donuts, cakes, chips)
• 2,119 cleanup kits
• 2,543 comfort kits
• 782 grocery boxes
• 801 infant supplies orders

Sir Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.” During this time of devastation and loss for so many, The Salvation Army has seen an incredible outpouring of love and service in communities throughout Texas. To date, 37 Salvation Army Officers and 175 Salvation Army employees have been involved in the response efforts, supported by an incredible 433 volunteers. Each morning numerous volunteers have appeared to help shoulder the work load, all looking to do their part to make a difference to someone in need. The Salvation Army is so grateful for each person who has given of their time to volunteer as part of ‘the Army behind the Army.’

Mobile kitchen roaming meal service has concluded in San Marcos and Wimberley following the closure of the respective Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC). However, The Salvation Army is providing meals at two fixed locations in San Marcos through the weekend; at St. Johns Catholic Church and at the old Target store. Several local donation and distribution centers continue to support the ongoing recovery in these communities. On Wednesday a MARC was open in the city of Blanco where Salvation Army staff from Service Extension Region 3 offered emergency assistance to survivors.

Residents of Wimberley continue to utilize the free laundry service provided at The Salvation Army Laundry Unit. While collecting her clean laundry, a local school teacher recounted the moments during the early hours of Sunday morning when a 44 foot wave roared down the Blanco River, destroying one bridge and damaging another along with countless homes. “My daughter was the first to wake up when she heard the trees splitting at about 12:30 am. She woke me and my husband and that’s when we realized that the water had already reached our back door,” she said. “It was terrifying. The next few hours are just a blur. We left the house and didn’t go back until Monday to see what we could salvage. It’s going to be a long recovery but just being able to wash our clothes is such a blessing. Thank you.”

A prolonged response of this kind requires considerable financial support. Monetary donations are the best way to support the ongoing Salvation Army relief efforts.

Individuals can donate:
• 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.