Sarasota, FL (October 18, 2024) – The Salvation Army continues to provide hot meals to survivors of Hurricane Milton with seven canteen teams serving in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. As power has been restored to most of Sarasota, The Salvation Army will adapt its operations to best meet the needs of the community. The Incident Management Team has seen increasing requests for Emotional and Spiritual Care (ESC). Three ESC officers joined by a team of Southern Baptist chaplains visited feeding sites yesterday to offer a comforting shoulder or listening ear to survivors.
ESC Officer Captain Maxie Deblanc stated, “Sometimes, all people are looking for in a moment of despair is a hug. And that’s what we’re offering, hope with a hug. If we can provide a comforting ear, a shoulder to cry on, or a word of prayer, hopefully people can leave with their hearts just a little lighter in these trying times.”
To date, the Sarasota operation has served nearly 32,000 meals and 9,700 snacks to Hurricane Milton survivors. To keep up to date with service locations near you, visit The Salvation Army Hurricane Milton Service Locations. The Salvation Army’s response to Hurricane Milton is an international effort, with crews traveling from all over the U.S. and Cannada to assist with the operation.
Service Locations as of October 18th, 2024
Sarasota County
Oct 18 beginning at noon while supplies last.
Manatee County
Oct 18 beginning at noon while supplies last.
If you would like assist with the response to Hurricane Milton, consider making a financial donation at HelpSalvationArmy.org or by volunteering with your local Salvation Army unit. When you support Salvation Army disaster services, 100% of your donation is applied to the disaster relief operation.
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