• Dave Hayton

Volunteer Florida joins The Salvation Army in Hurricane Debby Response

Perry, FL (August 7, 2024) - Josie Tamayo, CEO of Volunteer Florida, joined a Salvation Army feeding unit Wednesday morning in Taylor County. During the three hours she spent helping the canteen crew at the County Emergency Operation Center in Perry, FL she served warm meals to dozens of first responders and community members. She jumped right into action, serving meals with empathy, and an epic smile.

 

Mobile feeding operations are a mainstay of The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services. As a core service activity, serving hot meals and cold drinks from mobile canteens commences at the earliest moment on scene and continues until departure. Ensuring proper hydration and nutrition remains foundational to successful relief efforts.

 

Her work has been characterized by gravitas and enthusiasm since Governor DeSantis appointed her two years ago. The key is to serve your neighbors genuinely, she emphasized, challenging unhealthy attitudes of “volunteering” as a badge of status or a delicately curated professional resume. In her words, "The word 'service' suits me so much better than 'volunteer' because it is authentic, it fits better."

 

How does she envision her organization's future? Three thoughts flowed smoothly and heartfeltly: 

 

1.      New Rural Initiatives – “It’s time to bring resources to our most remote and vulnerable communities.”

2.      Florida as Service Model for the Nation – “I want the rest of the country to look up to Florida as the standard for volunteering.” Reflecting further on the impact of civic programming: “Visit Florida can get people here. Volunteer Florida will keep them here.”

3.      Growth of the Volunteer Florida Foundation (and the related Florida Disaster Fund)

 

She remains focused on her vision even as she daydreams about future collaborations with The Salvation Army. Josie says, “We’re all in this together: it’s time to serve, serve, serve!”

 

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The best way to support EDS efforts in the Southeast is by making a financial contribution, which allows The Salvation Army to meet immediate and long-term needs. Those who are able to donate can do so through a variety of convenient methods:

• Online: helpsalvationarmy.org
• Phone: Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or text “STORM” to +1 325-603-3395
• Venmo: @SalvationArmyUSA and use the keywords Tropical Storm Debby, Tropical Storm, or Debby

To learn more about The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts, click here.