• Shelley Henderson

Salvation Army Providing Hope in the Carolinas

Charlotte, N.C. (October 16, 2016)—Shelter residents call her the ‘Love Lady’, but other people know her as Captain Cathy Michels. She is a corps officer from Frederick, Maryland serving as an Emotional and Spiritual Care (ESC) worker in Bladenboro, North Carolina, which was impacted by wide-spread flooding after Hurricane Matthew dumped almost 18 inches of rain on the area.

Emotional and Spiritual Care workers are specially trained to provide hope and prayer to families and individuals affected by disaster. This type of care is important so survivors can find comfort in a very stressful time.

 “God called me to be a Salvation Army officer so I can minister to those who just need a hug and reassurance that everything is going to be ok,” said Captain Michels. “Today one lady just broke down – I was able to pray with her and hold her and love her.”

So far, The Salvation Army ESC workers have provided emotional and spiritual care to 2,842 individuals affected by Hurricane Matthew. Today the ‘Love Lady’ is working with shelter residents who are relocating to a new facility.

“It’s been hard for the residents here as they move—one lady thought she was going home and we had to explain to her that they were moving to a new shelter. I am thankful we were here to be with her in this transition.”

Captain Michels was able to pray with the residents and reassure them that she will see them at their new shelter.

“Today has been very emotional. The folks in the shelter are tired, but we will be there to help them get through this, loving them, listening to them and praying with them. We are not leaving.”

As the Carolinas recover from Hurricane Matthew, The Salvation Army will have people on the ground, lending a helping hand and a listening ear to people who are in the greatest need. Our job is to feed survivor’s bellies and soothe their hearts with the promising word of God’s love and we will continue until we are not needed any more.

We can do this because you support us. Thank you from The Salvation Army and on behalf of the many survivors we are serving. 100% of donations go directly to the disaster.

How People Can Help
The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation to the charity of your choice. Monetary contributions also support local economies and ensure that businesses can operate when relief supplies diminish.

• 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