Salvation Army Disaster Workers Respond to Gulf Coast Flooding Amid Loss of Baton Rouge Corps
Wauwatosa, WI (August 21, 2016) Record rainfall in Southeast Louisiana and South Mississippi causing roads to be closed and mandatory evacuations in several communities have not spared the Baton Rouge Salvation Army facilities.
“We were able to move all our response vehicles off our property and to high ground, but unfortunately we will not be able to use our facilities to assist those escaping the rising waters,” said Captain Brett Meredith, Baton Rouge Salvation Army Corps Officer.
Thirty inches of rain brought historic flooding, deaths, and tens of thousands of homes damaged. The Baton Rouge Command facilities flooded on the entire bottom floor, and the new men’s ‘Center of Hope’ shelter only weeks from completion was also impacted.
“You learn very quickly, you make due with what you have,” said Captain Brett Meredith. Baton Rouge Corps Commander.
What they had was a damaged community who needed their help, so with no time to lose heart or hope, the Meredith’s with the help of other Salvation Army officers and employees went to work.
“It’s about people not about the building,” said Captain Mary Meredith, as she stands in the middle of an old department store that is now The Salvation Army’s donation center for the area. “It’s about our volunteers, our staff and our community…what you see here is what happens in our building. It’s just relocated.”
So now, instead of the Captains picking up those around them, roles have been somewhat reversed as truckload after truckload and person after person showed up to drop off supplies to be handed out to those in desperate need of hope and help.
“We have a lot of wonderful people around the country looking out for us,” said Captain Brett Meredith.
And that “pick me up” from complete strangers, groups from out of state was all that was needed to refocus everyone on the mission in front of them.
“We want to be there to take care of them, just as if our facilities weren’t damaged,” said Captain Brett Meredith.
In response to Gulf Coast Floods, The Salvation Army has provided:
- 18 canteens (mobile feeding units)
- Emotional and spiritual care to 2,200 individuals
- 2,312 cleanup kits
- 5,040 comfort kits
- 1,314 hours of employee and volunteer service
- 19,831 meals
- 17,274 drinks
- 5,271 snacks
How to Help:
Monetary donations are the most critical need as supplies and personnel move into the areas of greatest need.
Online: Give online at https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/gulf_coast_floods or text STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for easy mobile giving.
By Phone: Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
By Mail: To donate via mail, please make checks payable to “The Salvation Army” and clearly marked “August 2016 Gulf Coast Floods”.
Attn: August 2016 Gulf Coast Floods
The Salvation Army
P.O. Box 470
Mansura, LA 71350
Donations of Household Good and Clothing:
Due to the emergency situation, The Salvation Army cannot guarantee that any individual donations of household goods or clothing (gifts-in-kind) will be sent to the disaster area. In times of disaster, our stores fill these needs from existing, pre-sorted stock. PLEASE continue to donate gently-used household goods to your local Salvation Army store. You will help your community and help us prepare for future disaster relief needs. To find your nearest drop-off location, please go to www.satruck.org.
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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 33 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing 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 (Human NeedsIndex.org). Nationally, approximately 84 cents of every dollar raised is used to support programs and services in nearly 9,000 communities nationwide.