• Philip Burn

Salvation Army Service Transitions to Include Emergency Financial Assistance

Dallas, Texas (January 2, 2016) – As relief efforts slowly transition from clean up to recovery The Salvation Army has expanded its services to include emergency financial assistance in the form of gift cards and Family Store vouchers to individuals and families in need following the Dallas storms.

Eight mobile feeding units continue to provide drinks, snacks, and meals, along with emotional and spiritual care in Garland, Rowlett, the Ovilla/Glenn Heights area, Sunnyvale and in Collin County. Two Polaris UTV’s have also been deployed in Rowlett to deliver meals and refreshment to families that are inaccessible by the significantly larger mobile kitchens.

Meals continue to be served to survivors, first responders, and volunteers at the following fixed locations:

• Granger Recreation Center, 1310 West Ave F, Garland
• Bobtown & Westlake Road , Garland

Resource Centers are now in place providing residents with emergency financial assistance along with clean up kits, hygiene products, blankets, work gloves and other cleaning supplies. We are currently providing these services at:

• The Salvation Army, 451 West Avenue D, Garland ( 972-272-4531)
• Glenn Heights Municipal Building, 1938 S. Hampton Road, Glenn Heights
• MARC, 1310 West Ave F, Garland (Financial assistance and thrift store vouchers)
• Volunteer Reception Center and Point of Distribution – 1st Baptist Church of Rowlett- George Bush Turnpike & Miller Road

Additionally, Salvation Army case workers are meeting with tornado survivors at the MARC to learn of their specific needs for long-term recovery.

The Salvation Army is incredibly grateful for generous donors and corporate partners who have made financial donations to support the relief work taking place in the North Texas area. One such story of selfless generosity took place today in Garland where a 10-year old boy named Houston asked his parents to stop the car as they passed a Salvation Army mobile kitchen not far from their home. Houston proceeded to empty his wallet of all of the money he had received for Christmas and donated that $58 to the ongoing relief work of The Salvation Army. Thank you to Houston and the countless other donors who have given to The Salvation Army in order meet the needs of their fellow Texans who have lost so much.

Since Saturday evening, December 26, The Salvation Army has served/provided:

• Meals - 8,339
• Snacks - 11,970
• Drinks - 13,933
• Financial Assistance - $59,800
• Household Clean up Kits - 2,856
• Individual Hygiene Kits - 7,250
• Cases of bottle water - 9,600
• Moving Boxes -  2,400
• Coats: 234
• Blankets: 150

Donations to support the ongoing Salvation Army response efforts can be made by texting STORM to 51555, or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or online at http://tsatx.org/floodandtornadorelief

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.

                                                                   -30-

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 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 spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

February 5, 2010