The Salvation Army of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan Deploys 4 Volunteers To Texas
Media Contact:
Amy Burke
Media Relations Director
(414) 333-5418 cell
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Salvation Army has deployed a local network of trained disaster staff and volunteers to the Gulf Coast to provide food, hydration, clean-up kits, hygiene supplies, and emotional and spiritual care to first responders and survivors. Multiple staging centers have been established throughout Texas including Houston, San Antonio, Victoria and Arlington.
The following volunteers departed on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at 7:30 a.m. from The Salvation Army Waukesha Worship & Community Center, 445 Madison Street, Waukesha, WI., 53188:
- Major Nelson De La Vergne - Commanding Officer in Waukesha
- Dakota Reeves - Salvationist
- Rodney Morin - Salvationist
- Amber Morin - Salvationist
Additionally, three chaplains with The Salvation Army in Milwaukee County remain on standby. They are expected to be deployed next week to provide emotional and spiritual care.
“Response efforts to this catastrophic weather event will be costly and last for years,” said Major Steve Merritt, the Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army in Wisconsin & Upper Michigan. “With generous public support, The Salvation Army will be here to help the millions affected by Hurricane Harvey for as long as they’re in need.”
On Thursday, Aug. 31, The Salvation Army of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan teamed up with CBS58 (WDJT-TV) to raise money for the survivors. During the 12-hour phone bank, $181,537 was raised. One-hundred percent of gifts will be used in support of those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Disaster Relief Overview (as of 8/31)
- Deployed 74 mobile feeding units (Each mobile feeding unit can serve up to 1,500 meals per day)
- Set up two field kitchens (Each field kitchen can serve up to 15,000 meals per day)
- Served 94,433 meals, snacks and food boxes
- Distributed 1,045 comfort kits
- Provided 9,130 hours of employee and volunteer service
- Provided emotional and spiritual care to 1,200 first responders and survivors
- Delivered mobile shower units to George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston (Each unit contains 12 private showers)
To contribute to The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Harvey disaster relief efforts, visit HelpSalvationArmy.org, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or text “STORM” to 51555.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need without discrimination for more than 135 years in the U.S. More than 25 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: 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. For every dollar donated to The Salvation Army, 82 cents is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). For more information, go to SalvationArmyUSA.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.