• Philip Burn

Catering Trucks and UTVs Key to Salvation Army Tornado Response

Dallas, Texas (January 6, 2016) – As the extensive clean-up and repair work continues in the North Texas communities hit by the December 26 tornadoes, accessibility has become increasingly difficult. To address this problem The Salvation Army has mobilized two catering trucks and two Polaris UTVs facilitating the delivery of meals, snacks, and drinks, to even the hardest hit areas.

On Tuesday, neighborhood streets of Garland and Rowlett were busy with the sounds of heavy equipment including city dump trucks and bulldozers removing rubble and debris while roofers worked alongside insurance companies on homes. These operations resulted in extremely congested neighborhoods. The Salvation Army Bryan College Station and DFW catering trucks were able to successfully maneuver through the streets to deliver meals, snacks, and drinks to grateful residents, workers, and volunteers.

Dwayne and Diane Walters, volunteers from The Salvation Army in Bryan College Station, began their deployment on Saturday, January 2, and anticipate serving at least through Thursday. “We’ve been serving in this same area since Saturday and are getting to know some of the people,” said Diane. “The residents and workers are so happy to see The Salvation Army pulling up, especially when we crack open the sides of the truck and start serving. For lunch today we’re serving Salisbury steak and au gratin potatoes.”

Four 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.

Meals are being served to survivors, first responders, and volunteers at the following fixed locations:
• Granger Recreation Center, 1310 West Ave F, Garland
• Bobtown & Westlake Road , Garland Police Command Post

Resource Centers are 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)
• MARC, 1310 West Ave F, Garland (Financial assistance and thrift store vouchers)

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:
• Financial Assistance: $59,800
• Food Boxes: 896
• Family Store Vouchers: 13,400
• Household Clean up Kits: 2,936
• Individual Hygiene Kits: 8,535
• Cases of bottle water: 12,048
• Moving Boxes: 2,400
• Work Gloves: 7,056 Pairs
• Coats: 434
• Blankets: 200
• Meals: 15,689
• Snacks: 18,665
• Drinks: 26,445

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.

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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