Volunteers Arrive As Salvation Army Starts Supplies Hand Out
Baton Rouge resident, Vanessa Yates, stands outside a vacant part of the Cortana Mall now turned into The Salvation Army’s distribution center waiting for her name to be called. Yates says her home was under eight feet of water just a couple days ago and now she’s trying to clean up. After a few more minutes, a volunteer brings her a case of water, cleaning supplies, and a food box.
“It’s good to find people who care,” said Yates. “It means a lot, I was in tears cleaning out my home yesterday.”
The process is the same for hundreds of other residents who’ve shown up for help. Numbers tabulated by the state emergency operation center estimate as many as 600,000 people impacted by the historic rainfall and flood.
“This disaster is incredibly widespread,” said Major Ed Binnix, Incident Commander. “But we will be here to feed these folks and get them the supplies they need to make it through this.”
Plus, friends and neighbors are stepping up to stand with The Salvation Army in a big way. Neighbors like 100 students from Dillard University who showed up at the distribution center to help organize supplies for each resident who came by.
“Some of these students are from Baton Rouge,” said Jeremy Carter, Dillard’s Director of Student Leadership. “We know education combined with community service can make a difference.”
They weren’t shy either, as they dove into piles of donated goods and started creating cleaning kits and food boxes to be handed out.
“Not everyone is as fortunate as we are. It’s very important to make a difference,” said Anwar Robinson, Dillard Resident Life Coordinator.
The Salvation Army depends on the passion and compassion of others, like students who volunteer or residents who show up to donate supplies to truly make a difference in times of unspeakable disaster.
To help those in these flooded areas across Southeast Louisiana, you can donate by going to http://give.salvationarmyusa.org/gulf_coast_floods.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 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 The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.
Shreveport, LA. (March 17, 2016) — As flood waters recede and many residents in Northwest Louisiana are being allowed back into their homes, The Salvation Army will be in the neighborhoods serving meals to recovery workers, first responders and residents. The Shreveport Salvation Army Canteen has been joined by a canteen from Biloxi, MS as we continue disaster service in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. It is estimated that almost 3700 homes in Caddo and Bossier Parishes have been damaged as a result of the flooding on bayous, creeks, lakes and rivers. Webster and Bienville Parishes continue to have homes and people who can only be reached by boats.
JACKSON, MS (March 11, 2016) – The rains may have stopped, but that doesn’t mean the need for support is no longer there for residents in northern Louisiana. The Salvation Army is answering the call. Saturday morning the Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi Disaster Services Division will send supplies to assist the Shreveport Corps located in northwest Louisiana. A truck of supplies supported by the Jackson Mississippi Corps will transport 1000 ready to serve meals, 300 comfort kits and 200 clean-up kits to Shreveport. These items will be distributed to local residents whose homes have been affected by flood waters.