• Philip Burn

Midwest Food Bank & UPS Come Through for Salvation Army in Texas

Dallas, Texas (January 4, 2016) – The Salvation Army in Texas reached out to Midwest Food Bank, a long-time disaster partner, in the hope to add emergency food supplies to already established relief operations supporting those who have lost so much as a result of the recent storms.

“Midwest Food Bank has been a great support in recent times of disaster in Texas, including the widespread flooding that hit the state in the spring,” explained Salvation Army Disaster Services Director for Texas, Alvin Migues. “The Salvation Army supplies the boxes and Midwest Food Bank provides all of the food, often filling the box with additional items including bibles.”

Anticipating that significant numbers of storm survivors would visit the MARC in Garland and other area resource centers during the weekend, The Salvation Army hoped to receive the food boxes by Saturday. However, due to the New Year holiday it was initially expected that the earliest day for delivery would Monday.

The Salvation Army contacted UPS, another great partner in times of disaster, asking if they could assist in the delivery of the 768 food boxes. “UPS were delighted to help and they moved mountains to get a driver from Coyote Logistics, a UPS company, to the Midwest Foods warehouse in Peoria, IL, by 3PM on New Year's Eve,” said Migues. “Incredibly, the delivery truck arrived and 24 pallets were unloaded at The Salvation Army warehouse in Arlington on Friday night. More than 850 food boxes were distributed this weekend."

Seven mobile feeding units continue to provide drinks, snacks, and meals, along with emotional and spiritual care in Garland, Rowlett, the Ovilla/Glenn Heights area, and Sunnyvale. Two Polaris UTV’s have also been deployed in 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.

Since Saturday evening, December 26, The Salvation Army has served/provided:
• Meals – 12, 239
• Snacks – 15,729
• Drinks – 20,881
• Food Boxes - 864
• Financial Assistance - $59,800
• Household Clean up Kits - 2,856
• Work Gloves – 7,056 pairs
• Individual Hygiene Kits – 8,535
• Cases of bottle water - 9,600
• Moving Boxes -  2,400
• Coats: 434
• Blankets: 200

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