The Salvation Army at Its Best – Relief in Savannah
Savannah, GA (October 12, 2016)— The Salvation Army continues to serve the needs of first responders and returning residents as Savannah begins to restore and recover from Hurricane Matthew.
At the height of relief operations, The Salvation Army enlisted 22 mobile feeding kitchens (canteens) and a field kitchen supplied by Texas Division to deliver food, drinks, and spiritual care to those across Georgia impacted by Hurricane Matthew. Five canteens from the Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi Division partnered seamlessly with 17 canteens from the Georgia Division in the relief efforts
When disaster strikes, The Salvation Army is at its best. The past days found The Salvation Army helping those impacted by Hurricane Matthew when they needed it most. Close to 35,000 prepared meals, 32,000 drinks, 92,000 snacks were served, and over 1,600 people were helped through this difficult time with emotional and spiritual care.
In the hurricane aftermath, there are still many trees blocking some roads and many intersections remain without power, so the work of rebuilding in coastal Georgia goes on.
As residents return to their homes and local communities begin to return to normal, The Salvation Army continues to assess and re-deploy resources as needed. The Salvation Army currently has eight canteens in operation in Savannah. Five canteens are serving at stationary locations; three at evacuation shelters and two at Housing and Urban Development (HUD) locations deemed unlivable due to hurricane damage. The three remaining canteens in service are deployed to serve as mobile kitchens covering Tybee Island, Wilmington Island, and Garden City.
"The response from the public is great, but the need continues," said John Zanders, Director of Development for The Salvation Army of Georgia. "We will stay for as long as necessary, until the last person in need of assistance receives help" he added with a note of encouragement and confidence.
How You Can 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.
- Donate Online: http://give.salvationarmyusa.org/hurricane_matthew
- Donate By Mail: The Salvation Army PO BOX 1959 Atlanta, GA 30301.
Please designate ‘Hurricane Matthew' on all checks - Donate By Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
- Donate By Text: Text STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for easy mobile giving
To further help in Hurricane Matthew relief operations, The Salvation Army has partnered with HIS Radio in the Georgia-South Carolina region to collect canned goods and bottled water at the Christian rock band Newsboys concert at 6:00pm on Saturday, October 15 in the Savannah Civic Center.
In addition, Savannah NBC affiliate WSAV televised short, live Q&A break-in sessions throughout the day today where people could ask a panel of Salvation Army and United Way staff questions regarding Hurricane Matthew relief.
Whether providing a hot meal, a refreshing drink, and a word of encouragement in the middle of disaster, helping someone have a merrier holiday season, or lifting someone out of the depths of addiction and on the road to a better life, The Salvation Army knows all things are possible with God.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.