Minnesota disaster volunteers headed to NY for Sandy relief
Roseville, Minn. – Four Salvation Army volunteers from Minnesota are headed to New York to serve Hurricane Sandy survivors. (Watch Sandy video.)
Hopkins resident Zack Zaccagnini, scheduled to leave Friday, will serve as chief of logistics. Tim and Desta Hunt (pictured) of Fergus Falls and Stan Aukema of Fridley leave tomorrow and will spend two weeks providing emotional and spiritual care.
“Everybody knows The Salvation Army provides food, water, shelter and other support during disasters, but they don’t always realize we provide emotional and spiritual care,” said Major Byron Medlock, Northern Division Disaster Services Secretary, who was deployed to New York with his wife, Major Elaine Medlock, on Nov. 23. “This is a critical service, especially for people who’ve lost everything and need extra compassion. Our trained emotional and spiritual care volunteers listen to survivors, pray with them and offer any support they can. Often times, the one thing survivors need most is someone to talk to.”
The Medlocks will return to Minnesota this weekend. Meanwhile, several other volunteers are on standby and ready to go in December.
Salvation Army locations in New York and New Jersey continue to benefit from 10 military-grade ultra-light vehicles donated recently by Polaris Industries Inc. The Medina-based company gave the vehicles to enhance The Salvation Army’s ability to transport food, water and other critical supplies to areas hard-hit by the devastating storm.
For more information about The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Sandy relief efforts or to give, visit salvationarmyusa.org.
About The Salvation Army
The Twin Cities Salvation Army serves more than 288,000 people a year through its 25 local centers of operation. Daily it serves 2,500 hot meals and shelters 970 people. More than 33,000 local volunteers help The Salvation Army provide these and other services, from child daycare to senior housing. Learn more about Salvation Army volunteer opportunities or click on “Donate” in the main menu to make an online donation.