• Donald Felice

Emergency Disaster Service Teams Focus on Bulk Distribution in Georgia

BAINBRIDGE, GA (November 5, 2018) –The Salvation Army continues to serve the needs of people impacted by Hurricane Michael as South Georgians rebuild their homes and communities almost a month after Hurricane Michael swept through Georgia. The hurricane cut a wide swath of destruction across the entire state from the southeastern corner in Bainbridge, northeastward toward Augusta. At the height of the emergency disaster services, 21 Salvation Army mobile feeding units (canteens) were in operation with 87 responding Salvation Army officers, employees and trained volunteers from three divisions (Georgia, National Capitol/Virginia, Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi), and the Central Territory.

To date in Georgia, over 58,000 meals and 79,000 drinks and snacks have been served, and 4,000 people have been assisted with emotional and spiritual care. In addition, over 6,500 food boxes, 3,600 cases of water, 2,100 hygiene kits and 2,300 clean-up kits have been distributed.

Last week, The Salvation Army in Georgia focused its operations on bulk distribution of supplies in the Albany and Bainbridge areas. Hundreds of cars snaked through parking lots and along roadsides, guided by Salvation Army and local police, to secure much-needed supplies.

“Many of these people will experience unanticipated financial hardships because of the hurricane,” says Lanita Lloyd, Director of The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services in Georgia. “These supplies will help people restock their pantries and allow them to use their money for personal recovery.”

At a point-of-distribution set up at a middle school in Bainbridge, Georgia, car after car with their doors and trunks open drove by a well-coordinated line of trucks and stacked supplies as Salvation Army personnel and volunteers filled the vehicles with supplies.

“Anyone negatively impacted by the hurricane is eligible for these supplies,” says Incident Management Team Commander, Major Ray Morton.

Supplies available to those impacted by Hurricane Michael included; cases of water, food boxes, boxes of snack foods, brooms and mops, cleaning kits, frozen beef and chicken, health and beauty kits, and paper products.

Words of gratitude permeate out from inside the vehicles as they pass the line of Salvation Army personnel. “Thank you!” says one lady with a backseat filled with young children. “I don’t know what I’d do without The Salvation Army.”

“These are my people and this is my community,” says Stacy Warren, Service Director for The Salvation Army in Bainbridge, Georgia. “Our community has never seen anything like this. You just don’t expect a hurricane to strike 150 miles from the coast.”

“To see how our community has come alongside The Salvation Army to partner with us in relief operations is just amazing,” says Warren, who has been working with her Salvation Army teams since the day after Hurricane Michael slammed through South Georgia. “We are committed to being there for people in their time of need, whenever that is - whether it’s a literal hurricane or a personal storm of life.”

In the weeks ahead, The Salvation Army’s disaster relief operation will transition toward long-term relief efforts, and activities will be consolidated back to the local Salvation Army Corps and Service Centers.

How to Help

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.

Donate By Phone:  1-800-725-2769  (1-800-SAL-ARMY)
Donate By Mail: The Salvation Army PO BOX 1959 Atlanta, GA 30301
             Please designate 2018 Hurricanes – Michael on your check
Donate Online: helpsalvationarmy.org
Donate By Text:Text STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for easy mobile giving