• Nathan Lawson

A Mayor Helping His Town after Hurricane Helene

Sparks, G.A. (October 2, 2024) – “We’re helping to feed the town! To supply food, water, and love to our community.” Those are the words of Mayor Harold Johnson from Sparks, Georgia. Mayor Johnson, along with City Clerk Latonya Daniels, spent the early fall evening supplying hot meals and cold drinks to their small southern community.

As the temporary drive-thru was set up and cars lined the street, both Salvation Army volunteers and survivors of Hurricane Helene caught the tantalizing aroma of BBQ and mashed potatoes wafting from the mobile canteen. The sound of conversation began to fill the air as the plates were prepared, offering a comforting reminder of community and resilience amidst the challenges. This gathering not only provided a warm meal but also a moment of connection and hope for those affected by the storm.

During the next hour, The Salvation Army distributed 250 meals throughout the community. As Mayor Johnson handed meals and drinks to each vehicle, he began to hear stories of survival and recovery. The exhaustion on each victim’s face from the day’s hardships slowly turned into smiles of joy and relief as the delicious smell of BBQ filled the air. “Don’t forget your drinks!” Mayor Johnson called out to one car as it began to drive away. As that car moved forward, the mayor ran to the road, waving to three more passing vehicles. “Come to the drive-through! Get a hot meal!” he called out.

With a smile on her face, Ms. Daniels served another car. “All I can remember from Helene is that my mother and I stayed the entire night in our closet. To me, the sound of Helene was similar to the sound of a vacuum cleaner running constantly. We did not leave the closet until the noise was gone!”

Along with the local Corps, The Salvation Army currently has a fully operational Incident Command Center in Valdosta with close to 30 personnel to address the needs of those affected by Hurricane Helene, serving residents as they begin to restore their lives. We are there to provide a meal, a cold drink, and hope during this difficult time. We are The SALVATION Army, here to meet human need in the name of Jesus Christ without discrimination.

The Salvation Army of Georgia is uniquely positioned to support people affected by Hurricane Helene. Our network of trained disaster staff and volunteers are deployed to several locations across all potentially affected areas, in preparation to provide food, hydration, clean-up kits, hygiene supplies, and emotional and spiritual care to first responders and survivors.

If you would like to donate towards Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts, please call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) or you can donate online at helpsalvationarmy.org