Canteen Workers Shine A Light of Hope

Goldsboro, N.C. (September 24, 2018) -- The Salvation Army provides food, hydration, and snacks as well as emotional and spiritual care in the aftermath of a disaster such as Hurricane Florence.  Most of these services are provided by the crew of a mobile feeding unit (canteen). 

Whether serving in a fixed feeding location, such as a shelter or corner in the neighborhood or roaming through communities and rural areas, the crew members of a canteen often get to know those they are serving or have experiences they wish to share. 

Here are just a few:

• “While handing a young man a meal in a car asking I asked if he would like prayer.  After looking around to the others in the car, he quietly turned around with tears in his eyes and said yes.  Turns out, he had been in a gang fight a week before which caused him to almost lose his leg.  Being able to pray with him was the highlight of my day” – Ken Brown, Greensboro, NC

• “Meeting an elderly, homeless lady at a shelter and developing a connection with her. Working to ensure she was connected to the county’s social services and providing her with needed personal items, hot meals and feeling as if I helped her at least a little.” – Captain Aaron Goldfarb, Statesville, NC

• “It was a wonderful experience to provide a meal to a group of migrant workers who work in the tobacco field for their livelihood twice a year yet due to the flood – they were being sent home without a means to support their families.” Patricia Beristain, Volunteer, Alexandria, VA

Other sentiments included being able to speak Spanish to a predominantly Spanish speaking community, being able to communicate with them and let them know we are listening and hearing their story to loving on babies while handing their parents a warm meal to feed the children or even giving a case of water to a family cleaning up the debris and trash in their yard in the hot sun.

Canteen crews often leave their own shelter early in the morning to cook breakfast and serve those impacted – cooking, driving, serving, listening, hugging, praying, cleaning, and doing it over two or three times a day – and being excited to do it again the next day.   They are truly an example of a servant’s heart.

Our prayers continue to be with the people of North and South Carolina.  The Salvation Army will continue to serve communities affected by flooding caused by Hurricane Florence.

How to Help
The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation. Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors as the situation continues to be assessed.

Online: www.HelpSalvationArmy.org

Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY

Mail checks to: The Salvation Army, P.O. BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301

Please designate '2018 Hurricane Season - Florence' on all checks.

To receive a donation link via text: Text STORM to 51555