• Christine Rogers

Keeping the Faith in Quitman, Georgia

Quitman, GA, October 1, 2024

In the small city of Quitman in Brooks County Georgia, residents are weary of back-to-back disasters. In the past 18 months they’ve experienced four major weather events—Hurricane Idalia, straight line windstorms, heavy rain and flooding this past spring, and then Hurricane Helene barreled through the heart of Georgia leaving a path of destruction.

“We’ve been told this is an unprecedented event,” said David Crosby, Chief Magistrate Judge for Brooks County. “The state of Georgia has never seen or had a hurricane of this magnitude where it caused so much damage and caused so many issues for so many Georgian counties.” 

As an experienced EMS and emergency preparedness official before becoming a judge, Crosby is no stranger to times of crisis like this and no stranger to The Salvation Army.

“The Salvation Army has been a tremendous help to us. During Idalia we worked closely with you, and you all became family with us both times. You all are a very valuable benefit to everybody. Every county, every state you serve. You have never let us down I can tell you that.”

Judge Crosby is helping to coordinate the relief efforts in Brooks County. It is an all-hands-on deck operation. Even though the county is closed, employees are reporting to work and helping with the relief efforts. Every day residents line up at the Brooks County Agricultural Building to receive water, ice and a meal from The Salvation Army. At this one location alone, The Salvation Army is providing two thousand meals a day.

Without electricity, Quitman resident Ernestine West lost all her food. She’s been relying on meals from The Salvation Army. While picking up her lunch she was also thankful the county building had electricity which allowed her to recharge her pacemaker battery.  

“I’m holding up pretty good. I walk by faith. The storm humbled a lot of us and is bringing us together. I’m thankful for everything The Salvation Army is doing. Without you, it would be a lot worse.”

West is no stranger to service herself. A volunteer coordinator for the local Women Empowerment and Improvement Outreach Center, she’s been putting together bags of diapers, wipes and other supplies to help families in need.

“It takes a village, and we all have to keep the faith.”

Judge Crosby couldn’t agree more and while he deeply appreciates The Salvation Army he jokes, “I hesitantly say, I look forward to seeing you in the future but I don’t look forward to seeing you because when you’re all here it means it is disaster time and we need to get to work.”