Salvation Army Support Continues in Central Texas at Hidden Pines Fire

Dallas, TX (October 19) – Two Salvation Army Emergency Disaster teams continue to serve the firefighters and first responders battling the Hidden Pines Fire in Central Texas. The fire is estimated to be 60 percent contained and has consumed more than 4,500 acres. 

A third Salvation Army catering and hydration unit was deployed from Dallas, Monday, to deliver additional support in the Bastrop County area. This unit will join those from Bryan College Station and Williamson County who have been serving since Thursday, October 15.

The Williamson County mobile kitchen has been staged at the Incident Command Post and has served approximately 200 meals, snacks and drinks each day. This Salvation Army unit is unique in the fact that it is operated year-round by a committed team of volunteers, responding to incidents in and around the Austin area and beyond. Lt. Jeremy Walker, Corps Officer from Bryan College Station, has been posted right in the center of the wild fire response area, providing hydration services and snacks beginning with breakfast and going until late in the evening.

The Salvation Army has served more than 850 meals, 1,200 snacks, and 2,600 bottles of water and Gatorade since Thursday. Several local groups and businesses, including Darling Ingredients Inc. and Texas Firewalkers, have donated food and survival bags to the response effort.

To make a financial donation to support disaster response in Texas please go to http://tsatx.org/wildfiresupport

If you are interested in learning more about The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) in Texas, or to become a local disaster volunteer, please visit: www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.
For the most up-to-date emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army in Texas, please visit: www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and follow latest updates on Twitter @SalArmyTXEDS and Facebook at www.facebook.com/SalArmyTXEDS.

About The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services:
“The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” While every disaster is unique and creates its own special needs, the core of The Salvation Army's disaster program consists of several basic services. And while these services address many of the typical needs of a disaster survivor, Salvation Army disaster relief is also flexible. Our services are adapted to the specific needs of individuals and communities and scalable according to the magnitude of the disaster.

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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established 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 spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.
February 5, 2010