Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good
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Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good
Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!
Hope is Greater Than Fear
Whether it's a large natural disaster like the Flood of 2019 or a personal tragedy like a house fire, we help survivors find relief, comfort and hope.
DonateAs we saw with the devastating flooding that impacted western Iowa and eastern Nebraska in the spring of 2019, natural disasters are increasing in intensity and frequency and can result in billions of dollars in losses each year.
The Salvation Army of Council Bluffs is here to help survivors of natural and personal disasters by providing food and hydration, emergency shelter, material assistance and emotional and spiritual support.
Our First Mission in a Disaster Is to Meet Basic Needs.
During the Flood of 2019, The Salvation Army of Council Bluffs served 150 hot meals a day from its mobile kitchen to residents of hard-hit Hamburg, Iowa. We also opened a Disaster Resource Center in Council Bluffs to distribute food, water and cleaning supplies to anyone in need; offered financial assistance via grants and gift cards to local home improvement stores; and partnered with a local veterinarian to offer free pet clinics.
We Help Disaster Survivors by Providing:
We provide clean, safe shelter for survivors in our worship and service centers, as well as in local churches, schools and other temporary facilities. When the best option is a short-term hotel stay, we cover the bill. Individuals and families can rest and be cared for as they figure out their next steps.
We help meet the physical needs of people who have lost virtually everything by providing clothing, personal hygiene items, household goods and more. We also aid the clean-up and restoration process by distributing cleanup kits and supplies, coordinating volunteer rebuilding teams and establishing warehouses for the distribution of material goods.
Food and water are usually the greatest need for survivors and relief workers impacted by a disaster. Food is prepared and served at a nearby Salvation Army worship or service center or on location in one of our mobile kitchens. We also set up meal stations near busy work sites or in community buildings where neighbors and volunteers gather for counseling and support.
Many who have been impacted by a disaster are comforted by prayer and spiritual counseling. Others simply need someone to listen. Our officers – most of whom are ordained clergy – offer a “ministry of presence” and are a source of solace and hope for those reeling from a tragedy. “There can be a lot of uncertainty and frustration in a disaster situation,” said Captain Chuck Cook of The Salvation Army of Council Bluffs. “We try to be a listening ear for people, right where they are.”
