Providing Smiles for the Smallest Survivors

Longboat Key, FL (October 22, 2024) - Deployed from Campbell River, British Columbia in Canada, Willie and Joanne joined The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Milton response assigned to assist with relief efforts in Sarasota, Florida. They were stationed with their canteen in Longboat Key, one of the hardest hit areas along the gulf coast. The destruction was widespread: homes sat askew on their frames, palm trees littered lawns, and piles of sand lined the streets like summertime snowdrifts. In the waning afternoon sun, the usual sounds of beachside fun were replaced by the hollow echo of power tools.

Willie and Joanne set up their rapid response unit near a recently reopened hardware store. After picking up supplies, both survivors and clean up crews would make their way to The Salvation Army canteen for free hot meals. As news of the feeding site spread, the number of people who would stop by increased. Among them was Samuel and his young son, Thomas.

Children, especially little ones, aren’t a common sight at a canteen. Yet, Willie and Joanne were prepared. After serving several meals to Samuel for his family, Joanne asked him, “Would you mind if we gave Thomas a toy?”

Earlier that morning, when the crew picked up their food from the Southern Baptist kitchen site, they were also given a small bag of toys to distribute. Joanne selected two toys for Thomas to choose from. Seeing the toys, Samuel said, “I already know which one he’ll pick.”

Joanne offered Thomas a stuffed bear and a wooden race car. Without hesitation, the little boy snatched the race car from her hand and grinned.

Samuel began telling the crew how difficult it had been for his son to adjust after the storm, explaining they had lost everything; a situation no one, let alone a child, should ever have to experience. Willie went on to say, “A lot of people forget about the kids. You see them, and they’re totally confused, wondering ‘why aren’t we going back home?’”

In moments like these, something as simple as a wooden toy car can make a world of difference. When a child loses everything and their whole word changes overnight, a toy offers something familiar, something to play with. It brings back a bit of joy.

Even with a long road of recovery ahead, children deserve to play, to be seen, and to be heard. In times of disaster, let us remember the children, whether in prayer or in deed.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of

heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:14