Last week, Jimmy Carter was celebrated for his life of personal humility and public service in both a public facing funeral at Washington National Cathedral and an intimate ceremony is his Georgia hometown of Plains.
“He built houses for people who needed homes,” said Joshua Carter, his grandson. “He eliminated diseases in forgotten places. He waged peace anywhere in the world, wherever he saw a chance. He loved people.”
The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services was honored to provide meal and snack support for the myriads of Secret Service, EMS, Police, Fire, and Georgia State Security officials on site in Plains. Salvation Army EDS teams also provided meals for retired members of President Carter’s staff and their families as well as for the motorcade that eventually carried his body to Atlanta.
“We have a great partnership and working relationship with Georgia Southern Baptist Disaster Relief,” said Cindy Puryear, Assistant Divisional Director of Disaster Services for The Salvation Army’s Georgia Division. “Together, we were the only source of food for all of the security teams and first responders for nine days total.”
Marsha Kaufmann, an EDS volunteer who spent seven days on assignment in Plains spoke about her experience. “It was such an honor to serve the first responders who were assigned there.”
