With the hardest flash flooding rainfall in more than a century, the Salvation Army’s Midland Division leapt to emergency disaster service last week when St. Louisans found themselves displaced or stranded because of the extreme weather.

Flood recovery supplies were donated to and distributed at the Saint Ann Community Center, at 1 Community Center Drive in Saint Ann. They’re available for people affected by the flash flooding.

Supplies for pick up available included water, blankets, and a well-appointed flood kit, the latter of which had N95 masks, latex gloves, mops, sponges, disinfectant, and more.

July 26, 2022, was the wettest day in St. Louis’ recorded history, going back to the mid-1800s.

One fatality was reported. Widespread property damage came from apartments and houses throughout most areas of the region.

To donate your time or resources to The Salvation Army Midland Division’s Emergency Disaster Services, or to learn more, visit https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/midland/

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On July 27th storms moved through eastern KY delivering 11 to 14 inches of rain within 48 hours.  Numerous counties were affected by severe flooding, including Perry, Clay, Floyd, Letcher, Owsley and Pike counties.

Currently, assessment and search and rescue continues with more rain on the way. The Salvation Army’s Kentucky emergency disaster services have provided 500 cleanup kits and will continue to assess other areas of need.

The Salvation Army Kentucky division has units and crews on standby for food service, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care.

With over 25,000 houses without power in the affected area and numerous homes, businesses and schools reported destroyed, a State of Emergency was declared by the Governor.

Shelters have been open in Langley, Jackson, Hazard, Whitesburg and Big Stone Gap.

For more information, visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org

On the morning of July 4th, 2022, tragedy struck the close-knit Highland Park, Illinois community when a gunman took the lives of six people and injured more than thirty.

In response to this tragedy, specially-trained chaplains from The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services have been on-site, providing support to those seeking a compassionate ear at family resource centers and memorial sites. As of July 14th, the chaplains have provided emotional care to more than 500 people.

In addition to emotional and spiritual care, The Salvation Army is providing families and individuals impacted financially by the tragedy with gift cards to help meet their immediate needs. 

The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services responds to the needs of survivors, first responders, and communities impacted by events such as tornados, fires, and tragedies like those impacting Highland Park, by providing resources such as food service, emergency communications, clothing, shelter, and emotional and spiritual support.

If you’re called to do so, you can donate to help support this effort by visiting https://donate.salarmymetro.org/

The Salvation Army in Biloxi, Mississippi, has recently created a new community garden available not just to Kroc members but the entire community.

What was once a barren plot of land near the running track has been transformed into a lush community garden.

Mississippi Farm to School is an organization that connects farmers with schools to bring Mississippi-grown produce into school cafeterias.

The organization partnered with The Salvation Army to create this new community garden and together will help educate others on healthy living.

The grand opening took place on July 9th and featured a garden tour, learning activities and a cooking demonstration for lunch.

The 105,000 square-foot Grand Rapids Kroc Center is all about changing lives together. This place of gathering, growth, and enrichment houses an array of education, sports, faith, and arts programs.

To learn more about the Kroc Center in Biloxi, visit https://www.grkroccenter.org/

The Salvation Army in Paducah Kentucky announced today that they will take over administration of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (Also known as the SSVF) program in Paducah and other areas of western Kentucky. According to the VA, the SSVF program provides case management and supportive services to prevent the imminent loss of a veteran’s home or identify a new, more suitable housing situation for the individual and his or her family.

The SSVF program aims to rapidly re-house veterans and their families who are experiencing homelessness and who might remain homeless without this assistance. Specialized services offered include health care system navigation, financial counseling, legal services, and help with transportation.

The Salvation Army in Paducah will house two staff members dedicated to the SSVF program.

For more information on the SSVF program or The Salvation Army, please call (270) 443-8231, that’s, (270) 443-8231 or visit https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/paducah

Storms on July 13th dumped heavy rains – up to 4.5 inches – resulting in flash flooding across parts of VA and WV. Buchanan County VA and McDowell County WV suffered the worst impacts of the storm.

These storms knocked out power, cell, phone and even water services in some areas, though much of service has been restored.

Preliminary damage assessment shows at least 17 bridges washed away, and many roadways are still impassable due to flooding, landslides and debris.

A State of Emergency has been declared by the governors for both Buchanan County and McDowell County.

At this time, the needs are largely focused around cleanup and supply needs.

The Salvation Army is coordinating with VOAD partners in both states, as well as government authorities.

To offer your support and help The Salvation Army’s emergency disaster services response to storms like this, visit https://give.salvationarmysouth.org/

The Salvation Army has activated new services and evolved existing services across the country to help provide hydration and shade for homeless individuals, senior citizens, and other vulnerable populations at risk of suffering from heat stroke and other heat-related conditions.

The life-threatening heat wave currently impacting approximately 35 million Americans marks the beginning of what experts predict will be a "hotter-than-usual" summer.

Across the country, The Salvation Army is opening cooling centers for those who need water and shade, as well as providing utility support for the elderly or other vulnerable individuals in affected communities.

The best way to support these efforts is by making a financial contribution, which allows The Salvation Army to meet immediate and long-term needs.

Those who are able to donate can do so through a variety of convenient and safe methods:

Visit HelpSalvationArmy.org,

Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or you can even use Alexa through Amazon by saying,

"Alexa, make a donation to The Salvation Army"

To help strengthen communities facing undue hardships caused by the pandemic and inflation, four Salvation Army service areas located in the Indiana Division received grant awards totaling over $37,000 from the Glick Community Relief Fund, a grant program of Glick Philanthropies that supports local nonprofit organizations providing access to basic needs.

All grant awards received will be used to strengthen food ministries within the service area.

In 2021, 1.5 million meals and grocery orders were provided to locals by The Salvation Army Indiana Division through its food pantries, hot meal programs, and grocery cards.

“We continue to praise God for the generosity of our community which enables us to come alongside our neighbors in these critical ways,” said Major Rachel Stouder, Indianapolis Area Commander.

For more information about The Salvation Army Indiana Division, please visit SalvationArmyIndiana.org. To learn more about Glick Philanthropies, visit GlickPhilanthropies.org.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Dallas Cowboys aimed for the fences in early June with the Reliant Home Run Derby benefiting The Salvation Army. Thousands of fans cheered on the Cowboys at Riders Field in Frisco, Texas, and the ninth annual charity competition resulted in Reliant donating $135,000 to 22 nonprofit organizations, the largest amount in the event’s history.

The Reliant Home Run Derby, which was free and open to the public, gave fans a chance to see some of their favorite players in action, raising a total of $81,000 for The Salvation Army.

“The Salvation Army of North Texas is incredibly grateful for the generosity and partnership of Reliant and the Dallas Cowboys,” said Major Todd Hawks, area commander for The Salvation Army. “The Home Run Derby is such a fun way to engage the community to support our mission. The funds received will be put to immediate use serving those experiencing poverty, addiction, and homelessness in North Texas.”

To read the full article, visit SOUTHERNSPIRITONLINE.ORG

Summer is flying by and a new school year will be here before we know it. Every year, The Salvation Army partners with local Walmarts and Walmart.com to make it easy to ensure every student in our local communities has the necessary tools to succeed.

Find your local Salvation Army on Facebook or visit SalvationArmyUSA.org to find out how to help students in your community.

If you’re in the Atlanta area, CLICK HERE and we will have a link to the Walmart.com registry where you can donate goods online. Items needed are backpacks, pencils, binders, notebooks and more.

All the items collected will benefit students in need as they start their new school year. Thank you for making a difference in the education and future of children in need.

https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/39a44039-1f4e-42db-8e62-a416933783ad?fbclid=IwAR15vKwevwPqJB2NzWXR_Y8AizKHkihToAh0uUaWJs6eTjFQWGh4mgR4Xh4