HONOLULU (Aug. 25, 2018) – As Hawaii continues to see the impacts of Tropical Storm Lane, The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services [EDS] has been asked to serve as the lead agency for the Hawaii Mass Care Feeding Task Force, which coordinates emergency feeding throughout the islands for this storm event. The Salvation Army is part of a team of agencies providing assistance during events and works closely with the State of Hawaii Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and other state and federal agencies.
“Initial meal service needs were identified at three emergency shelters on Oahu last night due to a high population of homeless individuals who had taken shelter but were unable to provide their own food supplies,” said Captain Micheal Stack, Emergency Disaster Services Director for The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division.
“Those three shelters included Dole Intermediate School, Farrington High School and McKinley High School. Although Oahu shelters and other shelters across the state are expected to close today, the task force will be assessing and coordinating feeding needs as the storm’s impacts continue to be assessed on each island.”
Captain Stack continued, “We also are requesting interested groups or entities with feeding capacity to complete a online form so that the task force can quickly contact them should the need arise in their area across the state during this and potential future events. The form is available now at hawaii.salvationarmy.org. Simply click the ‘provide meals’ button on the main page to link to the form.”
During emergencies, the best way the public can help is to provide monetary donations which allows the delivery of the exact relief supplies a community needs. Plus, The Salvation Army uses one-hundred percent of all donations designated ‘disaster relief’ in support of disaster operations.”
Donations may be made online at hawaii.salvationarmy.org. Listings of current volunteer opportunities also may be found at hawaii.salvationarmy.org.
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About The Salvation Army Disaster Services
The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to serve those impacted by disasters, however long it takes, because they are there before, during, and after impact. Beyond serving immediate physical needs, they also meet the emotional and spiritual needs that are unique to catastrophic events. The Salvation Army:
• Delivers disaster relief to an average of 382,000 people annually.
• Serves every ZIP code in the United States and touches almost 25 million lives a year.
• Has served survivors of every major national disaster since 1900.
• Remains in communities until needs are met and beyond.
About The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division
The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division covers the state of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands including Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands and The Federated States of Micronesia. The Division offers a wide variety of programs throughout the islands including: adult day health services; affordable senior housing; at-risk youth services and housing; camp & conference center; family stores; food distribution and feeding programs; homeless services; The Kroc Center – Hawaii’s largest community center; preschools & day care services; social services – emergency assistance; substance abuse treatment; and work therapy & rehabilitation services. For more information, call 808-988-2136, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.