Salvation Army Divisional Leaders Assess Flood Damage & Relief Efforts In Vermont

Portland, ME (September 5, 2011) - Majors James & Patricia LaBossiere, Divisional Commanders for the Northern New England Division, toured some of the affected areas over the weekend. The LaBossieres conducted worship services in Rutland, VT for Salvation Army Emergency Disaster workers and other community residents. "We saw firsthand the damage this major flooding brought upon the local communities as well as the wonderful, practical support that The Salvation Army volunteers and other groups are providing," stated Major James LaBossiere.

While Salvation Army canteens continue serving in the communities of Rutland and Ludlow, a canteen from Massachusetts has been working with us to assist the people in the town of Waterbury since Saturday. On Sunday, they served 934 meals and 1000 beverages.

The Salvation Army has been able to provide 4,501 meals and snacks to Vermont residents affected by Tropical Storm Irene since arriving on Tuesday, August 30^th. In addition, Salvation Army officers and volunteers have distributed 270 clean-up kits.

Captain William Thompson, Commander of The Salvation Army's Burlington Corps, and his team provided 122 meals and beverages this past weekend to flood victims in Rutland from the emergency canteen.

In Ludlow, 141 meals were served over the weekend by Captain Stephanie Thompson, Officer of The Salvation Army's Burlington Corps along with her son Jacob. In addition, The Salvation Army was supported in its effects by the following companies

Westminister Crackers, Rutland - donated 20 cases of crackers
Walmart of Claremont, New Hampshire donated $625.00
Walmart of Rutland donated $1000.00
Maurices Clothing Store, Rutland - donated clothing

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!

Hurricane Irene Updates:

• The Salvation Army has served nearly 450,000 meals, snacks and drinks to evacuees and emergency responders in all states impacted by Irene, from the Carolinas to New England.
• Meals and drinks were supplied at Salvation Army support shelters, and via 52 mobile canteens that can serve more than 1,500 meals per day.
• Overall The Salvation Army deployed more than 70 emergency response vehicles to all impacted states and has assisted in sheltering, handing out blankets and pillows, and providing food, water, emotional and spiritual counseling and damage assessment at the request of local, state and federal government.
• The Salvation Army has been providing warm meals to evacuees and emergency responders from 15 mobile canteens in flood impacted Northeastern states including New York and Vermont.
• Salvation Army teams have deployed 37 mobile canteens throughout the coastal region of the Carolinas to provide food and drinks to community members.

Dozens of Salvation Army emergency relief teams and canteens have been deployed to communities throughout the east coast. Some of these communities will need long term recovery assistance due to the amount of damage and flooding caused by Hurricane Irene.

• The Salvation Army is continuing to feed evacuees and emergency responders in Schenectady, Delhi, Roxbury, Margaretville, Fleischmanns, Deposit, Prattsville and Schoharie from seven mobile canteens.
• The Salvation Army is continuing to provide feeding support at the Montgomery County shelter in Amsterdam and the Schenectady High School shelter in Schenectady.
• While Salvation Army canteens continue service in Rutland, Plymouth, Tyson and Ludlow, VT, plans are underway to deploy a canteen from Massachusetts to Waterbury.
• In Ludlow, Plymouth and Tyson, VT, nearly 400 meals were served to evacuees and first responders and nearly 600 meals and beverages were served in Rutland on Thursday, September 1. More than 30 Salvation Army officers and volunteers have assisted with emergency relief crews.
• In response to state emergency requests, The Salvation Army is deploying two mobile canteens in Franklin County, MA, and mobile response workers are offering aid in various cities including Greenfield, Turner's Falls, Shelburne Falls, Charlemont, Montague, Bernardston, Northfield and more.
• The Salvation Army's Freeport Corps in Nassau, NY is acting as a disaster respite center at the request of local officials. The Corps will be open for set hours, serving breakfast and lunch as well as providing water, clean up kits, and referral services.
• The Salvation Army of Barre, VT provided backpacks to children who lost school supplies, food, water, prescription assistance, and vouchers to purchase clothing and household items to residents of Roxbury, Northfield, Waterbury, and Berlin, VT

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.