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Released 31 October 2012
Salvation Army Focuses on Feeding and Shelter as Sandy Response
Continues
Service Ongoing in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia and
Elsewhere
Alexandria,
Virginia (October 31, 2012) – 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 visit www.salvationarmyusa.org 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 http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org/, www.facebook.com/salvationarmyusa or www.twitter.com/salvationarmyus.
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