Updated: Minn. volunteers head south to serve tornado survivors
UPDATE: Disaster volunteer Jim Daly, pictured above and mentioned in the story below, spoke with us via cell phone on Friday, Nov. 22 and described what he saw in the devastated city of Washington, Ill.: “There’s a wide path of 250 homes completely destroyed, leveled. People are still in shock. They are picking through debris. … I can see a long line of people waiting to go into an apartment complex that’s in ruins to grab one or two items they can salvage. They’re being escorted in by police one at a time. We’re serving them hot chocolate. We have our mobile kitchens out to serve people picking through the debris of their lives.”
Roseville, Minn. –Seven Salvation Army disaster relief volunteers from Minnesota have been called to serve tornado survivors in Illinois after a spate of twisters ripped through the central states late last week.
With dangerous conditions in the area of Washington, Ill., and relief in a state of flux, the trained volunteers will step in to help bring hope to survivors and reinforcement for local Salvation Army personnel rising to the challenges of an EF-4 tornado path. Learn more about this hard-hit area and how The Salvation Army is helping elsewhere.
Longtime volunteer Jim Daly (pictured) from St. Paul, a retired Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant, will fly to the command site today to take over as relief leader for The Salvation Army response in the Peoria area.
“Jim is an amazing asset, not only trained in Salvation Army protocol and disaster relief, but government – city, state and federal – disaster training,” said Captain Fred Mead, Salvation Army disaster relief director for Minnesota and North Dakota.
Six additional volunteers will drive to the appointment for a two-week stint, providing food service and emotional and spiritual care. Longtime volunteer Marie Putnam, Blaine, will join the management team of the relief effort as the operations chief.
“Along with the need for physical sustenance, our expertise in emotional and spiritual support is top priority,” Mead said. “Emotional care is critical in any disaster, but especially when there are deaths attributed to the storms.”
Additional team members include: Erik Bonde, Brainerd, emotional/spiritual care; Tom Brustad, St. Paul, emotional/spiritual care; Dave Koefod, St. Louis Park, food service and mobile kitchen driver; Larry Sanders, Lakeville, food service and mobile kitchen driver and Patrice O’Reilly, Goodhue, emotional/spiritual care.
The best way to help The Salvation Army serve those affected by this storm is to make a monetary contribution.
- Give online
- Call 1-888-SAL-ARMY
- Mail a check to: “November Tornadoes”, The Salvation Army, 10 W. Algonquin Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016
- Text STORM to 80888 and reply YES to confirm your donation*
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army Northern Division serves more than 481,000 people a year through its local centers of operation. Annually it serves 992,000 hot meals and provides 450,000 nights of shelter. More than 80,500 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 make an online donation.
*Terms and conditions: A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Message and Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. By participating you certify that you are 18 yrs or older and/or have parental permission. Donations are collected for the benefit of The Salvation Army by Innogive Foundation and subject to the terms found at igfn.org/t. Privacy policy: igfn.org/p. Text STOP to 80888 to stop; Text HELP to specify 80888 for help.