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The Salvation Army and New Orleans Walmart Team Up to Serve Communities

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The Salvation Army teamed up with Walmart in New Orleans today to bring relief to more than 2,000 people over two days. Anyone in need of a hot meal and a case of water could come to the drive-thru operation set up in Walmart parking lots. 2,200 cases of water were provided by Walmart and 1,500 meals were provided by The Salvation Army.

“We are always grateful when Walmart comes alongside The Salvation Army to help meet needs in our communities,” said Ed Binnix, Incident Commander for New Orleans Response Team. “Throughout the year Walmart helps The Salvation Army during Christmas, and back to school events, among other things. We were grateful for the opportunity to feed and hydrate these communities with them.” Walmart provided water and additional volunteers to help facilitate loading the water into vehicles and handing out meals. The Salvation Army will continue serving meals at the 4301 Chef Menteur location at 10 AM today.

Commissioners Ken & Jolene Hodder, National Leaders of The Salvation Army will be visiting the Walmart location today at 4301 Chef Menteur Hwy and command post operations in New Orleans on Wednesday, accompanied by Commissioner Willis Howell.

The Salvation Army New Orleans IMT has provided 80,810 meals, 60,721 drinks, 21,320 snacks as of September 7, 2021. They have also distributed 1,069 hygiene kits and 94 clean-up kits. The Incident Command Team in New Orleans continues to evaluate and identify areas needing food, hydration, and emotional care.

 

 

 

 

Hot Meals, Water & Emotional Care Provided for Thousands in Greater New Orleans

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Tens of thousands are still without power in the greater New Orleans area. The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services Response team stationed in New Orleans has been working around the clock to get food and hydration to those in need. Nearly 20,000 meals have been provided to the many parishes in need. More than 7,500 hot meals were provided, including MRE’s, nearly 17,000 drinks, and 11,730 snacks.

“I was feeling hopeless, until today. Just getting this hot food, I’m grateful,” said Stephen Howard, New Orleans resident who has been without power since shortly after Hurricane Ida made landfall. “I was here for Katrina, but it’s different now. I have a family of my own and I’m not a kid anymore. It’s a different level of stress.” His pregnant wife and daughter held in their hands their first hot meal in more than a week.

“We have teams with volunteers from Florida, Mississippi, and Georgia,” said Incident Commander, Ed Binnix of the New Orleans Response Team. “We are coming together for one mission and that’s to bring food, hydration, and emotional care to all those who need it here in the greater New Orleans area.”

The Emergency Disaster Team arrived in New Orleans late Monday night and has been serving from sunup to sundown every day sending 19 mobile feeding units into neighbors.

In addition to meals, water, and snacks, 215 hygiene kits have been provided and 595 have been provided emotional and spiritual care.

Salvation Army Serving Thousands of Meals Today in New Orleans Area

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NEW ORLEANS, LA (September 1, 2021) – The Salvation Army has 15 mobile feeding units ready to distribute 17,500 meals to hardest hit areas left in Ida’s wake. The Emergency Operations Center has helped The Salvation Army identify areas most in need. Eight locations have been identified and will be receiving meals for lunch and dinner.

“Our disaster workers got in late last night and we are preparing to serve lunch and dinner today to anyone in need,” said Major Ed Binnix, Incident Commander for The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services. “We are working with state and local officials to help coordinate and execute this as efficiently as possible. Get food and water to those people quickly.”

The following locations are being served for today. The Salvation Army is serving hot meals for lunch and dinner. Helping provide food and hydration to those still in need. The additional mobile feeding units will be roving helping to identify locations in need.

LUNCH LOCATIONS (12-2 PM):

  • Treme Recreation Center (900 N. Villere St)
  • Gernon Brown Recreation Center (1001 Harrison Ave)
  • Milne Recreation Center (5420 Franklin Ave)
  • Stallings St. Claude Recreation Center (4300 St. Claude)
  • John P. Lyons Recreation Center (624 Louisiana Ave)
  • Rosenwald Recreation Center ( 1120 S. Broad Ave.)

DINNER LOCATIONS (4-6 PM):

  • Joe W. Brown Recreation Center (5601 Read Blvd)
  • Cut Off Recreation Center (6600 Belgrade St.)

For more information on The Salvation Army’s continued response, visit disaster.salvationarmyusa.org. To make a financial gift to support Hurricane Ida relief:

  • Visit helpsalvationarmy.org
  • Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
  • Text GIVE to 52000 to donate $10 automatically through your cell phone bill

Salvation Army Units From Across the Southeast Responding to Hurricane Ida

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Jackson, MS (August 30, 2021) — Exactly sixteen years after Hurricane Katrina’s massive destruction, Hurricane Ida made landfall as a major hurricane in Louisiana on Sunday. With widespread power outages across the region, providing food, water, and other essential items to those in affected areas is crucial, and The Salvation Army is already helping in affected areas with more help on the way. Salvation Army disaster response units from locations throughout the Southeast are already en route to Louisiana to assist with relief efforts.

Salvation Army Emergency Incident Command Teams from Texas and Florida are joining with The Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi (ALM) Division Incident Command Team to serve across the affected areas of Louisiana. Canteens and crews are coming from all over the Southeast to assist. The Texas team arrived in Baton Rouge today. The ALM team will be arriving in New Orleans tomorrow, and the Florida team will be serving in the Southern Louisiana area.

“The Salvation Army stays prepared year-round to respond to disasters as they strike. We are often the first on the scene and the last to leave because these are our communities — where we live, work, and serve every day. We greatly appreciate the strong network of support available through our Salvation Army family throughout the country. They never hesitate to support us when extra help is needed for a large disaster event such as Hurricane Ida,” said William Trueblood, Salvation Army ALM Divisional Emergency Disaster Services Director.

To support Hurricane Ida relief efforts, please go to helpsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. The Salvation Army uses 100% of all disaster donations to support disaster relief.

For the latest information, please go to www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and watch for regular updates on our social media pages at www.facebook.com/SalArmyALM/ and www.twitter.com/salarmyalm.

‘It must’ve been God‘: Carla’s story from New York to New Orleans

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Carla turned to The Salvation Army New Orleans Command in early 2020 after being evicted from her Miami apartment. She lost her job due to a periodic reduction in force and was living on a fixed income. One month Carla ended up being $1.43 short on her rent. She was evicted and decided to leave Miami to return to New Orleans, a place she’d lived many years ago.

“That’s how you become homeless in the first place. You just don’t have enough money for your basic needs. At least there’s a place like The Salvation Army where people can go. At the end of the day, you have a roof over your head, and you have a meal,” Carla shared.

“It must’ve been God.”

 

Carla didn’t qualify for Medicaid after losing her job despite having diabetes. She entered The Salvation Army as a low-income senior. Many seniors are left in similar situations as Carla and don’t know where to turn. Thankfully, Carla turned to The Salvation Army.

“It must’ve been God because I didn’t choose any other place. I immediately turned to The Salvation Army. Looking back, it was the best decision I could’ve made,” Carla shared.

Carla worked as an artist in New York, doing restoration and embellishment for Mark West Gallery for over 20 years. After settling into her new life of living in a shelter, she walked out on faith and began working with a social worker to find employment. Carla came across a flier on the receptionist’s desk concerning a virtual job fair. She applied to a position with Volunteers of America, where she’d assist with packing lunches for school-aged kids during Covid-19 school shutdowns. She got the job and prepared meals for children until the position ended once schools reopened for the fall semester. Thankfully, an opening for a new cook at The Salvation Army New Orleans Command opened.

Carla enjoys baking pastries, so she applied for the job and was offered the position and will work with The Salvation Army until she retires next year.

“I worked in the art industry for 22 years and somehow ended up a cook at The Salvation Army,” Carla laughed. “I don’t question things, and I don’t believe anything is by coincidence,” she added.

“The Volunteers of America job ended up preparing me for my current position as a cook with The Salvation Army. Isn’t it funny how things work out?” Carla stated.

 

“The Salvation Army bolsters you if you’re smart enough to see it.”

 

Carla feels that she sometimes serves as a therapist to those who enter her kitchen. She ensures that everyone has a relaxing experience during their meals. Residents often linger to tell her about jobs that they’ve found or what’s going on in their lives. She also gets to interact with children who are staying at the shelter during meal times.

“I understand the people come through the line because I’ve lived with them. Not only am I a kitchen assistant, but I’m also a therapist. My job is to make dinner a pleasant experience for these people. They have to live outside all day in harsh conditions. I try to relay that if you’re still standing at the end of the day, you’re good. You’re stronger than the average person because you’ve learned how to survive under harsher conditions. It’s the truth. The Salvation Army bolsters you if you’re smart enough to see it. Sometimes you have to look outside of yourself,” Carla shared.

“There was one little girl who wanted an extra piece of cake at dinner, but I wasn’t able to give her one. Sometimes there’s enough food for seconds, and sometimes there isn’t. I saw the disappointment on her face and told her that I’d be sure to give her an extra slice the next day. She’d forgotten by dinner the next night, so I reminded her, and her face lit up so bright! It was adorable. I hope that if I do things now to touch these children who are in the shelter, maybe 10-15 years from now, they’ll remember and be kind to others. That’s how life works,” Carla added.

 

“Majors Hull both told me not to worry. They would find me help, and everything would be okay.”

 

Carla says the most influential part of her short journey of living at The Salvation Army were her interactions with Corps Officers Majors Ernest and Debbie Hull.

“The greatest thing I got out of The Salvation Army was Major Debra Hull,” Carla shared.

“Major Debbie had a brand of discipline that I grew up with, and I give her all the credit for my sanity while living in the shelter. I just love her. Majors Hull both told me not to worry. They would find me help, and everything would be okay. That’s what kept me going. Those two are incredible people,” Carla added.

Carla and Majors Hull both share New York as their hometown and bonded over their shared culture.

“Both Major Debra Hull and I love Carla. She’s a wonderful person. We’re so proud of the effort she put in while in the shelter. She did everything she needed to do for her success. We were in COVID-19 isolation lock-down with her for 54 days in the shelter, so we became close. Carla became like a sister to us,” stated Major Ernest Hull, former New Orleans Commanding Officer, currently serving at the Armarillo, Texas Corps.

 

 “I’m happy to be able to spread a message of faith and strength to the people of The Salvation Army.”

 

A corps social worker reached out to Carla one day and told her that it was time to start working on an exit plan. Carla asked her to help look for a new home because she wasn’t familiar with New Orleans well enough to understand the best neighborhoods for her to live in.

“New Orleans is providential and backward to me! I don’t understand it, but that’s part of its charm. The people don’t move fast; everything is fluid,” Carla shared.

She found an apartment within a day and began the process of moving in.

“I love the city. I’ve been here before. I worked for Blain Kern in the ’90s. I left and went back home to New York for a while, but I’m back now,” Carla shared.

“I live near the French Quarter. Everything is within walking distance. It’s so convenient. I like being near the river. The Mississippi River and I have an amicable relationship,” she added.

Although she has returned to living independently, Carla enjoys returning to the shelter daily to positively contribute to people’s lives as a cook who can share a message of perseverance.

“You can lose your mind. You can literally lose your mind when you are homeless. I went from living in an apartment by myself for 15 years to living in a dorm room with 32 women who have all kinds of problems. I don’t get ruffled by a lot of things. I’m a New Yorker. I’m a progressive thinker. I see where people in the shelters are dealing with a lot. Multiple personality disorder, drug addiction, women who have dealt with abuse, or have dealt with the death of a child. I can see these people struggling to overcome their past. You see how some of them are so strong,” Carla shared.

“It’s important for everyone to know that you can make a situation as good or as bad as you want, and I’m happy to be able to spread a message of faith and strength to the people of The Salvation Army,” Carla added.

 

 

 

The Salvation Army Stands Ready To Respond To Hurricane Zeta

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Jackson, MS (10/28/2020) —The Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi (ALM) Division is monitoring the storm and preparing for a rapid local response to Hurricane Zeta as needed, with 19 mobile feeding units on standby throughout the division. After strengthening throughout the day, Hurricane Zeta is expected to make landfall along the southeastern Louisiana coast on Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The New Orleans area has had more than its share of hurricane threats in this extra busy hurricane season, but until now has managed to avoid each one. It looks like that is changing now, with Zeta poised to make landfall very near The Crescent City. “The Salvation Army is prepared and stands ready to serve our New Orleans community and surrounding areas as needed in the wake of Hurricane Zeta,” said Major Christopher Thornhill, Area Commander for the New Orleans Salvation Army.

Donations to support the disaster relief work of The Salvation Army can be made at www.helpsalvationarmy.org, or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

For the latest information on The Salvation Army’s response to Hurricane Zeta, and other 2020 hurricanes, please visit www.disaster.salvationarmy.org.

 

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.

On the Road to Victory: New Orleans Mother of Six Finds Home Amid COVID-19

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Tyronika is a 29-year-old mother of six children between five months and 11 years of age. She was laid off from her job at a nursing facility right before COVID-19 hit her community. With the loss of income and no other form of financial support, Tyronika and her children experienced homelessness and turned to The Salvation Army New Orleans Corps for assistance.

Tyronika, along with her six children, entered the shelter in January 2020, without food or shelter, and having just the clothes on their backs. During her time with The Salvation Army, she received nutritional meals for her family, assistance with searching for a job, finding childcare, and locating a new home.

“I lost my job last September and was evicted from my home. The only person I had to help me was my mother. She provided for my family when she could, allowing my kids and myself to live with her, but it eventually put her in a financial bind as well,” Tyronika shared.

She stayed with her mother for a while but eventually needed to find a shelter for her family until she could become financially stable. Tyronika was scared when she arrived at the shelter because she didn’t know what to expect, but soon grew to enjoy her neighbors and the Army.

“Living in a shelter was something new to me. I didn’t know if I could do it, but I felt comfortable after a few days. I started getting motivation from people who didn’t know me from Adam or Eve. My social workers, Ms. Treshone and Ms. Jhana, and Major Debbie Hull, were always there to help me,” Tyronika shared.

“I connected with Ms. Jhana a lot. She always told me to pick my head up and that she was proud of me. Ms. Treshone always told me how strong I was and let me know that she was there to help me. Their daily smiles lifted my spirit and helped me want to take care of myself and get back on track,” Tyronika added.

 

“That’s why I fight hard.”

 

Tyronkia deals with chronic anxiety and depression, as well as PTSD from being hit by a car while crossing the street a few years ago. Growing up, she dealt with these issues alone, not understanding their origin. She has learned more about mental health and is in therapy to learn how to cope with her conditions. She found it hard to manage these issues while living in a shelter because she wasn’t surrounded by close friends or family to connect with personally. There were also limited activities due to COVID-19. However, with the help of her social workers, she was able to pull herself through the ups and downs and continue being strong for herself and her children.

“Depression is a big monster. One day you’re motivated, and the next day you don’t want to be bothered. Staying at The Salvation Army was a good experience for me. My social workers were always there with an open heart and an open mind. They never turned me down. Ms. Jhana and Ms. Treshone helped me with my kids and loved them as their own. If I could go back to the shelter and give them all a hug, I would. I love them. I look at them as my family,” Tyronika shared.

“Being in a shelter during coronavirus with children was terrifying. The thought of one of my children contracting the virus scared me. Thankfully, we were never around a lot of people in the shelter. There were rigorous regulations to inform people to limit their contact with children, so I felt confident that my children were safe at the shelter,” Tyronika added.

“Tyronika stayed in our Rapid Rehousing program apartments for two and a half months. I was blessed by her sweet attitude and fell in love with her children. We are so happy for Tyronika. She is a true success story,” shares Treshone Collor, New Orleans Corps Director of Social Services.

 

“I’m home now.”

 

Tyronika met with social workers regularly to check on the progress of finding a job and home. On May 25th, Collor secured permanent housing for Tyronika and her family. She is now working as a home healthcare provider.

“It’s taking me one day at a time to get myself back on track financially. I’m now able to provide for my kids. Being a young mother with six children is a lot, and providing for them is a major accomplishment,” Tyronika shared.

“I’m so thankful for my mother and The Salvation Army because they helped me through such a trying time in my life. You go through things, and you learn from it. I’m home now. I have a home. I’m doing better and I’m working again. I’m getting back into a normal routine,” Tyronika added.

Tyronika is just one of the many stories of success we share atTheSalvationArmy. Through our staff’s dedication to others, we can guide families to self-reliance and advancement. Find out ways you can get involved to assist The Salvation Army in helping other families like Tyronika’s.

The Salvation Army Responds to Louisiana’s Stay at Home Order

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On Sunday, March 22, 2020, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced an official Stay at Home order for the entire state of Louisiana due to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus throughout the state. The order took effect on Monday, March 23 and is in place until the morning of Monday, April 13, when local schools are scheduled to re-open. This mandate affects The Salvation Army throughout Louisiana in many ways, most notably in shelter operations. All seven of The Salvation Army’s shelters throughout the state are now housing residents 24/7. Shelters that usually serve only breakfast and dinner will now be serving three meals a day. This change to round-the-clock sheltering increases staffing needs as well as the need for more food and cleaning supplies. All shelters throughout the state are increasing daily cleaning and disinfecting measures throughout their facilities in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus and keep all shelter residents and staff safe and healthy.

Louisiana’s Stay at Home order is also resulting in the temporary closure of all Salvation Army thrift stores in the state.

New Orleans

The Salvation Army New Orleans Area Command is sheltering 96 residents and providing three meals a day, plus activities to help alleviate boredom for its residents. Major Ernest Hull, New Orleans Salvation Army Area Commander, says that while 96 isn’t max-capacity for the shelter, they are limiting acceptance to the current residents for social distancing purposes. Many of these shelter residents are young children, and Major Hull is making sure to keep them entertained as well as safe—with “drive-in” movie nights and more.

“We’re trying to give them activities and the residents are good about constantly cleaning and disinfecting their dorms,” said Major Hull. Majors Ernest and Debra Hull are also currently living in the shelter to help provide for the residents’ needs during this unprecedented time.

In addition to taking care of their shelter population, The Salvation Army New Orleans Area Command has also been requested by the state to help feed the unsheltered homeless population in the area. “While this is not your typical disaster setting, The Salvation Army is going to rise to the cause and meet the human needs of our communities to the best of our abilities. We have never retreated before and we’re not going to retreat now,” said Major Hull.

Baton Rouge

The Salvation Army of Baton Rouge has temporarily closed its thrift store and social services office due to the state-wide Stay at Home order. The Corps’ youth programs—the School for Performing Arts and character-building programs—have briefly stopped at this time to practice social distancing. The Men’s Recovery Program, which houses program participants, will continue with its regular schedule.

The shelter has limited its acceptance to 50 residents and is currently at capacity. Following city protocol, the shelter will keep an eye open for people showing signs of the virus. Shelter residents and staff are encouraged to wash hands frequently and to practice social distancing.

In addition to increased shelter operations, the Baton Rouge Salvation Army is also providing food to school-aged children and their families throughout the area. Nearly 150 grab-and-go lunches are provided to families Monday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout Baton Rouge.

“We’re here. The Salvation Army has been serving Baton Rouge for 115 years, and it’s not going to change. In times of difficulty, we stick to our mission of preaching the gospel of Jesus and to help people in his name without discrimination. We are working every day to take care of the needs of our community,” stated Major Donald Tekautz, Salvation Army Baton Rouge Corps Officer.

Alexandria

The Salvation Army of Alexandria includes both a veterans shelter and a general shelter, with both remaining open 24/7 for the duration of the statewide Stay at Home order. Both thrift stores are temporarily closed at this time.

The Alexandria Corps is currently providing dine-in breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all residents. Feedings take place in shifts, with only two individuals seated at a six-foot table and cleanings taking place between each shift.

Breakfast is provided daily to the community and served outside of the shelters. An anonymous donor has purchased 85 kolaches twice a week for the next two months that are being distributed each morning along with a piece of fruit and a cold beverage. The Alexandria Corps is working towards bagging all breakfasts and dinners for transient residents and the general public. Hot meals are provided in shifts, but the shelter does not have the staff and financial resources for sandwiches and lunchmeats.

“In Alexandria, we meet daily as a staff to discuss the continually evolving conditions regarding COVID-19. We are practicing social distancing in every aspect of operations,” stated Alexandria Corps Officer Major Richard Watts.

With the new guidelines of the Stay at Home order, the shelter is encouraging residents to stay indoors. Furniture has been rearranged to practice social distancing, and staff is working toward feeding the public and residents outside of the building via the canteen and outdoor tables.

Monroe

The Salvation Army of Monroe’s shelter, which houses men and women, is currently at capacity with 50 residents. Due to the new mandate, the shelter is now operating 24 hours a day, serving lunch in addition to the breakfast and dinner normally provided. In addition to the cost of supplying enough food to meet the demand for round-the-clock shelter operations, purchasing food is challenging right now because of market shortages. Shelter staff members are making daily trips to grocery stores, but markets are either low on supplies or will not allow bulk purchases. The shelter has only about four day’s worth of meals left at this time. The Monroe Corps’ thrift store also had to shut down because of the Stay at Home order.

“We are now at full capacity and in desperate need of food to sustain our residents. We also need additional funding because more staff is needed to assist with running the shelter 24/7,” stated Captain Jerry Casey, Monroe Corps Officer.

The above is just a sampling, but all Salvation Army shelters throughout the state of Louisiana are operating 24-hours a day, 7-days a week for the duration of the state’s Stay at Home order. Every one of these shelters is in immediate need of extra food and cleaning supplies to meet the increased demand, but their biggest need is financial. The Salvation Army needs a great outpouring of public support to continue to serve the increased need in Louisiana. To support The Salvation Army’s COVID-19 response efforts, please give now.

Salvation Army Actively Serving/Preparing in New Orleans & Baton Rouge Over Weekend

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The Salvation Army’s preparations for Tropical Storm Barry have been in full swing over the weekend, as staff and volunteers worked hard to get ready for the impact of the storm. Barry made landfall as a hurricane early Saturday afternoon near Intracoastal City, Louisiana, and quickly weakened back to tropical storm status. It’s still too early to breathe a collective sigh of relief, however, as the storm system is moving very slowly there is still the possibility of severe flooding. Tropical Storm Barry could potentially dump a tremendous amount of rain on already strained waterways. The Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi (ALM) Division stands ready and prepared to serve as needed, with the bulk of activity so far being in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Terry Lightheart, the ALM Division Emergency Disaster Services Director stated, “Preparedness and partnerships are key to an effective disaster relief response and recovery. The Salvation Army seeks to “Do the Most Good” which includes providing much-needed resources to the communities where we serve in a time of need.”

Beginning on Friday, The Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans has been serving three meals a day from their mobile feeding unit (canteen) to local Department of Transportation employees who are stationed at Baby Cakes Field to inspect a fleet of buses on standby for evacuations. Lunch on Friday included sandwiches donated by Subway. The Salvation Army New Orleans Area Command also spent much of the day preparing their Center of Hope shelter for an expected increase of shelter residents as a result of the storm. Employees unloaded pallets of drinks donated by PepsiCo and moved them, along with water and other supplies, to the fourth floor of the shelter to prepare for the possibility of flooding.

The Baton Rouge Corps of The Salvation Army has also been busy in the community and at their shelter, taking full advantage of the lead-time that an event like this gives for preparation. “The good thing about hurricanes is you know they’re coming. You do get to prepare at least,” said Major Donald Tekautz, Baton Rouge Salvation Army Corps Officer. At the request of the Cajun Navy on Thursday, the Baton Rouge Salvation Army provided hydration at one of the main sandbagging locations in town. They also helped to fill sandbags and even sent Salvation Army volunteers to drop off sandbags to elderly residents who otherwise would not have been able to get them. The Baton Rouge Corps continued to help with sandbagging efforts on Friday and Saturday. The Salvation Army shelter in Baton Rouge was also a hub of storm prep over the weekend, with employees stocking the warehouse with disaster relief items such as bottled water, clean up kits, cots, and personal hygiene kits. Extra food was also put in place in the shelter kitchen in anticipation of a storm-related surge in shelter occupancy.

The Salvation Army Stands Ready to Respond to Gordon

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Jackson, MS— The Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi (ALM) Division stands ready to respond to Tropical Storm Gordon, which is predicted to turn into a minimal hurricane before making landfall tonight along the north-central Gulf Coast. This weather event is expected to impact all three states in the ALM Division, with the areas of most concern being Mobile, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and New Orleans. All Salvation Army ALM units remain on standby for potential activation to support affected areas as the need arises.

The storm is expected to make landfall in Hancock County, Mississippi. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and MEMA Director Greg Michel will be holding a press conference at Hancock County EMA this afternoon and MS Gulf Coast Area Commanders, Majors Bradley and Anita Caldwell, will be in attendance representing The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army MS Gulf Coast Area Command has all canteens (mobile feeding units) prepared and ready to go out as needed.

Major Tom Richmond, Area Commander for The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama said, “If we get what they’re predicting, we will probably get some flooding on the outer islands, Dauphin Island. So, we’ll wait until the storm passes and then we’ll move our canteens out to that area.”  All Coastal Alabama Salvation Army canteens are prepared and waiting on standby with their crews ready to go. The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama’s homeless shelter and kitchen is opening at 2:00 PM today.

The Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans is prepared as well, with all canteens ready and on standby to go wherever they might be needed. The city of New Orleans has shut down operations throughout the city, which means most businesses are closed today. Salvation Army Center of Hope shelter residents are staying in place throughout the day as requested by the city. “The City of New Orleans has requested The Salvation Army to house the homeless and invite these individuals into our shelter for refuge during the storm. We will have the shelter open throughout the day tomorrow as well, we certainly wouldn’t want to put anyone out into the weather,” said Major Ernest Hull, Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans Area Commander. The main concern in New Orleans is the flooding. There are no mandatory evacuations at this time, but there are some voluntary evacuations for those areas outside of the levee system.

According to Bill Feist, Divisional Disaster Liaison for The Salvation Army ALM Division, “The Salvation Army has liaisons at the State Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in Mississippi and Louisiana which both activated at 7:00 AM this morning. Liaisons act as ambassadors for The Salvation Army to State Emergency Management helping both share information with each other.  The Liaisons will remain at the State EOCs working twelve hour shifts until the emergency passes.”

The Salvation Army is continuing to watch as Gordon progresses toward the Gulf Coast and is ready to serve as needed with food, drinks, shelter, and emotional and spiritual support.

To donate to The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts, go to helpsalvationarmy.org.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need without discrimination for more than 135 years in the U.S. More than 25 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: 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. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). The Salvation Army has served survivors of every major national disaster since 1900. The Salvation Army does not place an administrative fee on disaster donations. During emergency disasters, 100 percent of designated gifts are used to support specific relief efforts. For more information, go to www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.

“God’s going to see us through every bit of this.”

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All across the country, Salvation Army officers are slowly beginning to find their footing at new appointments. Majors Ernest (Ernie) and Debra (Debbie) Hull are no different. The Hulls spent the first seventeen years of their officerships in the Arkansas-Oklahoma Division. There they became friends and served under the current ALM Divisional Commanders, Majors Steve and Wendy Morris.

“We are known for getting corps out of debt, so they send us where corps are in debt,” Major Ernie Hull says with a smile.

Their current challenge is bigger than any they’ve faced before in every aspect…bigger city, bigger operation, bigger bills to pay. The Hulls are now leading the New Orleans Area Command. While a bigger challenge, the approach will be the same for the Hulls.

“Everywhere we go we love the community, it becomes our home,” said Major Ernie. “By bettering The Salvation Army, we will better the community at large.”

It’s definitely a team approach. Major Debbie focuses on the finances, and Major Ernie focuses on outreach.

“We’ve learned the goal is to live within our means, streamline the operation,” said Major Ernie. “Get me in front of influential people and we’ll give them the story of the Army. We are going to touch their hearts in order to make the New Orleans Area Command the most efficient command in this Division.”

Major Ernie is also very humbled to now lead the command where his friend, Major Richard Brittle, gave his life helping survivors following Hurricane Katrina.

“I was prepared, but I was humbled walking into the Richard Brittle Center of Hope, knowing my good friend gave his life to save this place. I’m just humbled to carry on a legacy of love he had here.”

Cindy downgraded to tropical depression, The Salvation Army still monitoring need

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JACKSON, MS – The Salvation Army of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi is still monitoring the needs across our three-state area even as Cindy is downgraded to a tropical depression. To this point, The Salvation Army has received no requests for assistance.

“Cindy is still a threat as it moves northeast across the top of our area,” said Terry Lightheart, EDS Director, The Salvation Army of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. “We know with projected rainfall from this storm more flooding could still be a possibility into the weekend. Many areas of the Divison are also under a tornado watch or warning.”

With Salvation Army Corps located all across the Gulf Coast from Mobile to Biloxi to New Orleans and Lake Charles in Louisiana, officers will stay in close contact with local emergency management officials to make sure all needs are met. Shelters are also open to receive anyone who needs to escape rising flood waters.

“So far flooding has been localized but Divisional disaster relief personnel  and assets remain on standby until remnants of the storm have passed.”said Lightheart. “We would rather be prepared and not be needed than be caught off guard.”