by a member of
|
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Salvation Army continues to serve daily meals and provide other hurricane recovery services for residents and emergency workers in 23 North and South Carolina counties as the region recovers from last week's devastation from Hurricane Floyd. As of this morning, Salvation Army personnel had served approximately 184,900 people. Thirty-four Salvation Army mobile canteens are serving meals to emergency workers and storm-affected residents and two additional canteens are en route from Tennessee. Yesterday, more than 13,000 people were served from the canteens. Earlier this week two Salvation Army disaster recovery centers were opened to provide financial assistance and distribute locally-donated food, bottled water, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, paper products, baby care items and blankets. The centers served more than 8,600 people yesterday. An additional eight recovery centers are scheduled to open today and tomorrow. Numerous businesses are partnering with The Salvation Army to provide assistance, including Jitney Jungle, Wal-Mart, Mississippi Trucking Association, KLLM and WJTV. "Our hands are extensions of others," said Lt. Colonel Robert J. Tritton, in charge of The Salvation Army for North and South Carolina. "It is a privilege to serve on behalf of those who are so generous with their time, talent and treasure."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Although Hurricane Floyd left a signature calling card on the Cavenaugh family and their Wallace, N.C., neighbors, yesterday brought an emotional shift common among those visiting Salvation Army disaster relief sites. In the parking lot of Wallace's First Baptist Church, Anita Cavenaugh received lunch from a Salvation Army mobile canteen kitchen after attending the morning worship service. "I was terrified at the time," she said, "but now I am just thankful to be alive." She remembered anxiety rising with the water while peering out the window of her drowning home, questioning a decision to allow her husband and 11-year-old son Jonathan to attempt a rescue of their neighbors Robert and Glenda Wadworth. "We had a canoe. Our neighbors can't swim. So, my dad and I went to help them," said Jonathan, unassuming in a hero's role. Ironically, it was only a matter of hours before his family sought boating assistance from the North East Volunteer Fire Department. "There were too many of us to all fit in the canoe," said Anita, "and we didn't think there was enough time to make two trips. If it weren't for the rescue boat, I don't know if we all would still be here. The last thing I remember seeing as we left the house was my day calendar that read, 'Lean on the everlasting arms of Jesus.'" Similar reliance sustains Salvation Army disaster relief workers in 22 counties where they fed more than 17,000 persons yesterday.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hundreds of Salvation Army disaster relief personnel are aiding thousands of displaced residents and emergency service workers in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd as North Carolina experiences the worst flooding in its history, leaving nearly half the state under water. Hard at work in more than 22 counties, Salvation Army mobile feeding canteens fed over 17,000 people yesterday. More than 30 canteens are stationed and roving throughout hard-hit areas of the state to make sure that people receive the nourishment they need to survive. Washed-out roads, closed businesses and power loss still blanket many Carolina communities and have made simple everyday tasks such as cooking impossible for the thousands. Salvation Army personnel and volunteers are also distributing clothes, hygiene items and cleaning supplies to those affected by the storm. The Salvation Army has established Post-impact Comfort Stations which are one-stop assistance centers where people can receive an array of basic necessities, such as food, temporary shelter, baby care items and other social services. Salvation Army disaster relief teams from the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi are involved in this relief effort. As they proceed with their very practical relief work, teams also are extending comfort and hope. They are involved in the very vital ministry of comforting and counseling those who've lost most everything they owned. "A lot of these people are hurting and asking 'Why?'" said Raleigh, N.C., Lt. Todd Mason, leading The Salvation Army team in that area. "They have such a feeling of loss. It's like a death." The Salvation Army is committed not only to emergency relief but long-term assistance to help these families and communities recover and restore their lives.
|
|
|
This site written by a member of
|