The Salvation Army of Arkansas and Oklahoma continue to serve on the frontlines of the devastation from Hurricane Harvey, according to a press release submitted by Lt. Bradley Hargis, Pine Bluff Corps Officer.
Currently, there are 14 Salvation Army officers, volunteers and employees on standby and may be deployed as soon as Friday, Sept. 8.
This is the largest response that the Salvation Army has served since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many of the feeding units and personnel deployed are serving at Ground Zero where residents are returning and where many structures were destroyed. In many areas, power is still not restored, according to the release.
On Aug. 28, eight mobile feeding units arrived in Corpus Christi to serve Texas’ coastal bend area with two more units arriving Aug. 29. The feeding trucks, manned by 18 Salvation Army officers, employees and volunteers, immediately began serving residents and first responders affected by the hurricane. Also, a team of 12 was deployed as an Incident Command Team to run the operation. All personnel are deployed for 14 days. There’s a total of 33 personnel serving from the AOK division.
On Sept. 1, nine additional feeding trucks, a Polaris Ranger, a Polaris Quad Runner and a trailer were sent from the Arkansas-Oklahoma Division to reinforce disaster response efforts in Texas. That makes 84 feeding trucks responding.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Feeding Units from the Arkansas-Oklahoma Division include: Pine Bluff, Hot Springs, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Little Rock, Fort Smith, Jonesboro and Mountain Home in Arkansas, along with several from Oklahoma.
How People Can Help
Financial donations are the best way to support the Salvation Army’s disaster relief program, according to the release. People may donate online at www.helpsalvationarmy.org or by mail: The Salvation Army, P.O. BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA., 30301. People should designate “Hurricane Harvey” on all checks.
Contributions may also be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769); or texting STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for mobile giving.