Released 21 April 2009
"No matter who you are, no matter what you do, if you
need help, The Salvation Army is there for you."
Tim and Desta Hunt's first exposure to The Salvation Army
stretches far beyond their local corps in Fergus Falls, MN. In fact, this
husband and wife team credits the decision to spend their retirement years
volunteering for The Salvation Army to seeing the organization in action
throughout the world. Tim's involvement in the military brought the Hunt family
from country to country, and they spent several years in India while Tim was
the Defense Attaché at the American Embassy. By living internationally
in a variety of settings, the Hunts say that they had the opportunity to
witness The Salvation Army changing the world first-hand: "It became very clear
that no matter who you are, no matter what you do, if you need help, The
Salvation Army is there for you. No exclusions. No discrimination. And the most
amazing part? They expect nothing in return."
When Tim and Desta retired and returned to Minnesota, there
was no question that they wanted to devote their time to The Salvation Army,
they just weren't sure how. They called Captain Mike Parker at the Fergus Falls
Salvation Army and offered to help in any way needed. When Captain Parker
learned about their international experience and Desta's background in social
work, he suggested that they attend certification training to volunteer in
times of disaster. "We headed to Chicago to attend training, and since then we
have been sent all over to help in different times of need. They tell us to go
and we go, and we stay as long as we're needed."
Constant threat of disaster
Recently,
they have spent most of their time in Fargo, Moorhead, and surrounding rural
areas to help with flood relief, feeding and hydrating the volunteers and
community members and providing emotional and spiritual care where needed.
"We've seen such a phenomenal outpouring of goodwill in every community we
visit. People come to the Salvation Army canteen and are so thankful for the
simple white bread sandwiches we give them," Desta laughs, "Some people just
need some good cheer and to know that there's hope. They need to know that
people care. That's why we're here."
Tim and Desta say that as the preparation for the flooding
has gone on and on, they've realized that this disaster is unlike any they've
experienced before, "It's not like Katrina or the flooding in Iowa where it
comes and wipes everything out. In this case, it's ever-imminent. And because
of that, people on the outside start to think ‘Oh they're okay. They
don't need help anymore,' but that's not the case. People are still hurting.
People are still struggling. There is still damage to deal with." Emotional and
spiritual care is more important now than ever because the initial adrenaline
and excitement of fighting the impending floods has faded; those still
suffering start to feel forgotten. "Everyone came together at the beginning,
but people start to wonder who will stay through to the end?" Desta says.
Through the mud and muck
To combat the
quickly-spreading feeling of abandonment in flood-affected communities, Tim and
Desta go door to door, looking for people who need help. The response has been
overwhelming: "Over and over, people have been so impressed that The Salvation
Army didn't sit and wait for the people to come to them. They look out their
windows and see The Salvation Army literally climbing over the sandbags in
their yards, wading through mud and muck, and meeting them in their own
homes."
One man they met told them that this isn't the first time
The Salvation Army has helped him out: "The Salvation Army saved my life during
the floods of 1997. They fed me for three weeks. If not for them, I'm sure that
I would have died. This time, I didn't think that I would make it, but The
Salvation Army came through again."
Tim and Desta knocked on the door of one woman who broke
down crying when she saw The Salvation Army on her doorstep. She said, "I was
just standing here in this mess and all I could think was, ‘How will I
ever survive?' And there you were!"
Another woman the Hunts met was struggling to simultaneously
care for her husband who is afflicted with Alzheimer's while also dealing with
effects of the floods. "Their water was shut off and they did not have a
bathroom to use. Her husband was becoming increasingly disoriented and she just
needed some help. We were able to take them to some facilities to use, and she
was so grateful for the emotional support we offered. She just needed some
hope, and that's what we give."
Tim and Desta say that while they're out volunteering, the
one thing they hear over and over is that The Salvation Army is present even
after everyone else has left the scene, and this disaster is no different.
That's what drew them to volunteer with The Salvation Army over four years ago,
and they have no plans to stop any time soon. "This has completely changed our
lives. We've grown closer to God and closer to each other. We've met the most
amazing people. And, honestly, we receive more out of it than we can possibly
give." When asked where she and her husband find the strength to keep up their
spirits in the face of so much despair, Desta's answer is simple: "It does not
take a Master's degree or a PhD to help people. It takes love. That's what
people need, and that is a resource that will never run dry."
About The Salvation Army:
The
Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been
supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. 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. About 83 cents of every dollar
raised is used to support those services in nearly 5,000 communities
nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org. To donate,
please call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.