Dallas, TX (March 22, 2012) – The small community of Devine, TX, located about 30 miles Southwest of San Antonio, is beginning the road to recovery after a tornado ripped through the city on Monday evening. A Salvation Army mobile feeding unit and disaster team from San Antonio has been providing meals, hydration and comfort to those affected by the tornado and to first responders. More than 50 buildings were damaged or destroyed by the slow-moving, powerful storm.
Major David Hodge, Commanding Officer of the San Antonio Mission Corps, received the call requesting assistance at 9:30 PM on Monday evening. By 11:00 PM, The Salvation Army mobile feeding unit was deployed in Devine, serving snacks and drinks to city residents left shocked and shaken by the storm.
“We worked through the night on Monday, providing assistance and relief wherever possible,” explained Major Hodge. “We served snacks and drinks to the emergency responders and to families who were trying to assess the damage to their homes and businesses. It is important to build relationships quickly within the community in times like this and we are grateful for the support that we received, particularly from Lowes Home Improvement store who donated food for breakfast, that was prepared and served out of The Salvation Army mobile kitchen."
The Salvation Army disaster team provided meals to volunteers cleaning up the hardest hit areas on Tuesday and Wednesday, and served dinner to displaced families at the emergency shelter, set up at the Devine Community Center. The Salvation Army will continue to provide refreshment, meals and emotional support at least through Friday.
Monetary donations to go directly toward relief efforts can be made online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by texting the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone.* For more information on The Salvation Army’s continued response, please visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.
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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 more than 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. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.
* A oneâ??time donation of $10 will be billed to your mobile phone bill. Messaging & data rates may apply. Donations are collected for The Salvation Army by mobilecause.com. Reply STOP to 80888 to stop. Reply HELP to 80888 for help. For terms, see www.igfn.org/t.