• Dulcinea Kimrey

Volusia County, Florida: Salvation Army meeting needs despite weather

(Tampa, Fla.) October 7, 2016 – During the late night hours of Thursday evening, The Salvation Army in Daytona Beach served dinner to more than 1,800 people within the span of just a few hours.

Hurricane Matthew evacuees from the east coast were situated at the Volusia County Fairgrounds where The Salvation Army was able to feed them dinner.

“We are trying to get necessary food out to the Volusia County Fairgrounds,” said Kevin Smith, The Salvation Army’s director of emergency disaster services for Florida, “even when the winds are blowing, we’re doing everything we can to serve.”

Even as The Salvation Army was feeding evacuees, water was nearing at least one Salvation Army building in Daytona Beach. The building had already been evacuated.

Throughout the state, Salvation Army units have responded to their communities’ needs even as the storm is sweeping the state.

In a little more than 24 hours, The Salvation Army on the east coast has served more than 3,000 meals.

“We are trying to be the hands and feet of God,” Smith said. “We continue to work closely with our state and local government partners to meet the need of Florida residents where they are.”

Services around the state also include:
 

• The Salvation Army in Miami served more 300 meals at its local shelter and a special needs shelters for residents with pets.
• The Salvation Army in Melbourne, which is expected to be “ground zero” for Salvation Army disaster services in Florida, is surveying the barrier islands.
• At the Salvation Army of Florida disaster warehouse in Tampa, crews and supplies are staging to head to affected areas on Saturday morning.

The Salvation Army of Florida has a fleet of 32 mobile canteens, or kitchens on wheels, which serve as its primary service during a disaster. The mobile kitchens have the capacity to cook on site and serve affected populations.  Along with the mobile kitchens, The Salvation Army has two semi-truck size field kitchens capable of making more than 20,000 meals in a day, five shower unit trucks and a mobile command center. 

The Salvation Army has more than 3,000 trained volunteers and staff in Florida, ready to offer a warm meal, bottled water, coffee or emotional and spiritual care.

In the United States, The Salvation Army began its Emergency Disaster Services ministry during the 1900 Galveston hurricane. The ministry continues to grow and is a vital part of every Salvation Army unit in the country. Today, The Salvation Army utilizes mobile canteens to cook band distribute food to residents in need in the aftermath of a disaster such as a hurricane.

The best way to help survivors and relief workers is to make a financial contribution. Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors as the need continues to be assessed. 

The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those directly affected by the storm to visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

How people can help:

The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation to the charity of your choice.  Cash is flexible, can be used immediately in response to a crisis, and allows disaster relief organizations to purchase exactly what is needed, when it’s needed. Cash gives relief organizations the means to procure supplies near the affected area, which cuts down on transportation time and cost. Monetary contributions also support local economies and ensure that businesses can operate when relief supplies diminish.

It’s easy to support The Salvation Army’s disaster relief program:

·     Donate Online:                      http://give.salvationarmyusa.org/hurricane_matthew

·     Donate By Mail:                     The Salvation Army  PO BOX 1959  Atlanta, GA 30301 Please designate 'Hurricane Matthew' on all checks.

·     Donate By Phone:                  1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)

·     Donate By Text:                     Text STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for easy mobile giving