Dallas, Texas (June 21, 2023) – The Salvation Army disaster response teams have been working in Perryton, Texas, after a tornado caused significant damage and destruction on Thursday, June 15. As service transitions from response to recovery, local Salvation Army volunteers are continuing service to storm survivors and those impacted by the storm.
Working closely with partner relief agencies, The Salvation Army has been providing meals, drinks, and emotional and spiritual care throughout the devastated Texas Panhandle city. Since meal service began, The Salvation Army has served 605 meals, 598 drinks and prayed with or counseled more than 500 people. A trained disaster team from Wichita Falls have been roving through the impacted area in the mobile kitchen delivering meals to individuals, families, and first responders working to clean up homes and businesses in the sweltering Texas heat. The Wichita Falls team will demobilize after meal service at lunchtime on Wednesday.
Local Salvation Army volunteers are continuing service in Perryton, supported by key Salvation Army staff. Shelby Huff, The Salvation Army Service Unit Regional Manager for the Panhandle area, is leading the ongoing operation. “I work all year round with incredibly committed volunteers who support The Salvation Army’s local ministry in rural cities. They are trained and motivated to serve others, especially in times of disaster or crisis like the community of Perryton has experienced,” said Huff. “We are doing all we can to help and support our neighbors in need and have established a voucher plan with United Supermarkets to provide food to residents.”
A Disaster Assistance Center will be open on Friday and Saturday at the Perryton High School gym located at 1200 S Jefferson Street, and The Salvation Army’s Divisional Recovery Manager, Kathleen Kouns, will be onsite to coordinate Salvation Army efforts. “So many people have been impacted by this disaster in some way. The Salvation Army will continue to provide support through our ongoing community and partner collaboration in the coming days,” said Kouns. “An integral part of The Salvation Army’s disaster service is emotional and spiritual care. We have an ESC team from Granbury, Texas, arriving on Thursday who will be working at the Disaster Assistance Center. They will be available to listen to, encourage, and pray with those impacted by the tornado and dealing with this crisis in their lives.”
ABC7 Amarillo have promoted a giving link to support The Salvation Army’s relief efforts in Perryton. In just three days, viewers have donated more than $14,400. To donate, go to www.helpsalvationarmy.org and select the dropdown option Perryton/Ochiltree County Tornado (June 2023).
For more information on The Salvation Army’s current disaster response efforts or to make a donation, go to www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.
