As millions struggle
without access to power and other basic services up and down the East Coast,
The Salvation Army entered its fifth day of response for Hurricane Sandy.
Feeding and sheltering activities are continuing in the most heavily impacted
areas including New York and New Jersey where coastal devastation and flooding
remain major issues. West Virginia and Maryland are facing a different kind of
disaster with record snowfalls leaving thousands without power.
In New Jersey,
The Salvation Army is serving hundreds of people at shelters throughout the
state. This includes service in Atlantic and Hunterdon Counties. Starting
today, The Salvation Army is also providing food, hydration and emotional and
spiritual care to first responders in Freehold, NJ. A Salvation Army mobile
feeding unit (canteen) has also deployed from Western Pennsylvania to support
efforts in the state.
In New York City,
officials from the Office of Emergency Management have appointed The Salvation
Army as the lead agency for the City’s Food Access Plan, to coordinate efforts
ensuring access to food for city residents. For the next few days The Salvation
Army will be serving food at Seward High School in lower Manhattan where 1,000
people are being fed breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Meanwhile, in Maryland
and West Virginia, The Salvation Army is serving in portions of Western
Maryland and West Virginia where more than two feet of snow have left thousands
without power in frigid temperatures. In Cumberland, MD, The Salvation Army
worked with the National Guard to help 100 senior citizens evacuate from a
local senior home, providing 125 meals for the trip to a nearby shelter. The
Salvation Army is also running shelter and feeding operations throughout West
Virginia at multiple locations in Charleston, Beckley, Grafton, Bluefield and
Martinsburg, WV.
Elsewhere:
· In Northeast Ohio, The Salvation Army has partnered with
the American Red Cross to provide meals at 3 shelters.
· The Salvation Army is serving meals and drinks from canteens in
several coastal communities in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia.
· In Nashua, NH, The Salvation Army provided meals to
personnel at the Emergency Operations Center and also delivered clean-up kits
to the Hampton, NH area.
· In Bridgeport, CT, The Salvation Army is feeding 450
seniors three separate sites.
“This will be a
long-term response and recovery effort,” said Major George Hood, National
Community Relations and Development Secretary for The Salvation Army. “The best
thing the public can do now to help is to give generously.”
The Salvation Army
is extremely gratified for the continued support of the donating public. To
date, the Army has received nearly $700,000 in online donations alone to
support relief efforts.
How To Help
The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by this disaster to click here or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).
Donors may also contribute
$10 via their phone bill by text messaging the word STORM to 80888, and
confirming the donation with the word, “Yes.”*
At this point,
in-kind donations, such as used clothing and used furniture, are not being
accepted for hurricane relief. However, these items are vital to supporting the
day-to-day work of your local Salvation Army. Please consider giving these
items to your local Salvation Army Family Store or dial 1-800-SA-TRUCK
(1-800-728-7825).
Checks may be made out to
The Salvation Army Disaster Services Center, PO BOX 1959 Atlanta, GA 30301.
Please designate “2012 Hurricane Season” on all checks.
For more information on The Salvation Army’s
response to Hurricane Sandy, please visit The Salvation Army USA's blog, Facebook, or Twitter.
No comments:
Post a Comment