• Michelle Hartfield

The Salvation Army Serves Beach Communities Desperate for Resources

Portions of Keaton Beach outside of Perry, Florida are still inaccessible to the general public. Many residents have no way to venture out for resources, having lost not only their house but also their vehicles. Some are living in tents or campers without access to additional food and water.  

 

Lindsey lived in a beach neighborhood that was decimated by Hurricane Helene. She drove through a Salvation Army distribution line and spoke to the crew about her neighbors.

“We are living in a tent,” she said. “We are lucky and have a car because I had left my car at my mom’s house.” Most of her neighbors, however, had no way to get in and out. She asked if she could take extra food back with her.

 

The Salvation Army was able to team up with local community members on a resource center for their neighbors. Amy and Buddy own a sports bar that they have converted for the time-being into just such a space. They have a large generator running to provide a cooling center and to allow people to charge their devices.

 

Amy spoke on how the community had pooled together, and even people from other parts of the state were collecting supplies for them to distribute. They have water, tarps, bananas and apples, toiletries, and a chainsaw crew ready to help clear a road for someone trapped on their property.

 

“Buddy and Amy have the savior of this little community,” said an appreciative resident. “This is the second time we’ve done this. We were just here for Hurricane Idalia.”  

 

The Salvation Army was also present at this same location after Idalia and was happy to once again come alongside this beach community, providing a hot lunch and dinner to everyone who came by as well as offering emotional and spiritual support.

 

“So many of our Incident Management and team were just here for either Debby or Idalia,” said Captain Jeremy Mockabee, Incident Commander for The Salvation Army response in Perry. “It’s heart wrenching to know we are serving the same people again, but we’re honored to be able to do it.”