The Salvation Army Shares Hope and Help After Disasters
This guest blog was provided by Christopher McGown, who is serving in the wake of Hurricane Florence.
The community is working to find a sense of normalcy, even as some parts of the community are still cut off by flood water. On Sunday, community members and visitors filed into The Salvation Army’s chapel, passing fluttering flags and pallets of drinking water—a sign of the times.
Those in attendance comforted each other and found comfort in the group—sharing stories of water damage, narrow-escape, and service to others. The conversations focused on hope: hoping the water would recede soon, hoping they would have the strength to continue to serve others, hoping their neighbors would return; but most of all, hope and faith is something greater than the storms and fear. Hope in an eternal future through faith in and the grace of God.
Hope infused with a sense of joy filled the time together. No sign of empty promises or fantasy was present. Everyone understood that when they left their time together they were going to walk past reminders of the destruction before even reaching their vehicle. But, they would also walk past the row of Salvation Army flags fluttering in the wind. The words in the center of each flag are a reminder of the source of their faith and strength – “Blood & Fire.”
For many, “normal” or even the “new normal” is still a long way off, but there is Hope, and in that hope, the strength to move forward. The brass band started the meeting by playing “Onward Christian Soldiers;” both a reminder and a charge to all present.
The Salvation Army was serving our neighbors before the storms, The Salvation Army is serving survivors of Hurricane Florence today, and The Salvation Army will still be here tomorrow. Always looking to fill unmet needs in the community and partnering with other agencies to meet the needs of each person.
In response, the Army has provided:
- 337,500 meals
- 281,100 drinks
- 202,100 snacks
- 15,800 food boxes
- 11,800 hygiene kits
- 9,700 clean-up kits
- Emotional and spiritual care for 21,600 individuals
- 100,000 hours of service
- 24 mobile kitchens are still in service
In times of disaster, the best way to help survivors and relief workers is to make a financial contribution. Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors.
How to help:
Online: helpsalvationarmy.org
Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY
Mail checks to: The Salvation Army, P.O. BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301
Please designate '2018 Hurricane Season - Florence' on all checks.
To receive a donation link via text: Text STORM to 51555
You can now use ALEXA to donate to The Salvation Army Hurricane Florence Relief. It’s easy!
Just say, “Hey Alexa, make a donation to The Salvation Army!”
To support The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Florence relief efforts, visit HelpSalvationArmy.org. For updates on The Salvation Army’s emergency disaster response efforts, visit Disaster.SalvationArmyUSA.org.