Salvation Army Canteens In Action Serving Meals to Vermonters Dealing With Aftermath of Irene

Portland, ME (August 30, 2011) - The Salvation Army, with a team of officers and volunteers from in-state as well as far away as Lewiston, ME, is presently providing services in two locations in southeastern Vermont where Hurricane Irene took a heavy toll.

In Ludlow, a Salvation Army emergency disaster canteen served 76 meals, snacks and beverages since 8:00 am on Tuesday morning. Lieutenant Jason Brake, commanding officer in Lewiston, reported that many of the residents were grateful for the assistance since they have been without power and food. In addition, clean-up kits were distributed to people whose homes were flooded.

Lieutenant Christopher Williams and Chris Leet, part of the disaster team in Ludlow, traveled by van to near-by towns, Plymouth and Tyson, to assess the damage. Lieutenant Williams remarked, "I am devastated by the flooding that has knocked out bridges and destroyed roadways in these towns. We were able to provide more than 30 lunches to residents and bulk food for the town and will return tomorrow for more distribution and assistance."

Captain William Thompson, commander of The Salvation Army's Burlington Corps, and his team has provided over 120 meals to flood victims in Rutland from the emergency canteen. Also, clean-up kits were handed out. The Salvation Army intends to remain on site while the need remains.

Salvation Army Rutland Commander Major Charles Balcom, whose own facility experienced flooding, is overseeing all emergency disaster operations in the state.

Monetary donations to help The Salvation Army's hurricane relief efforts may be sent to:

The Salvation Army
Disaster Gift Processing Center
P.O. Box 1959
Atlanta, GA 30301
*Designation ‘2011 Hurricane Season'

• Credit card donations, please call: 1-800-SAL-ARMY
• Donate online: donate.salvationarmyusa.org/Irene
• Text to give: Text ‘STORM' to 80888 to make a $10 contribution.

Thank you!

The Salvation Army is committed to respond not just to short-term needs, but also long-term recovery efforts in impacted regions.

• A Salvation Army canteen able to serve more than 500 people moved into the flood-stricken town of Ludlow, VT to provide meals for emergency workers and survivors.
• At Stewart Air Force Base in Newburgh, New York, The Salvation Army handed out blankets, pillows and sheets to National Guard troops deployed to help with the response.
• The Salvation Army has already served some 15,000 meals to first responders and evacuees in New Jersey.
• Three canteens have served nearly 2,000 meals and snacks as well as cleanup kits throughout the Philadelphia and Delaware region.
• The Salvation Army in New York City has secured 1,000 clean-up kits for deployment to the Mid-Hudson region.
• The Salvation Army is serving meals and delivering clean-up kits to hundreds of people in Greenfield, MA and other flooded towns in the western part of the state.
• In the southern United States - from the Carolinas to Maryland The Salvation Army has served more than 60,000 meals, snacks and drinks and handed out hundreds of clean-up kits.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.