• Mark Jones

Disaster Feeding and Distribution Operations for Alabama and Mississippi

Jackson, MS - May 12, 2011 – As areas affected by tornados close in order for cleaning and repairs to begin, The Salvation Army is refocusing its efforts away from providing meals to distributing critically needed items to tornado survivors. The Salvation Army is currently operating 21 distribution centers across Alabama and Mississippi to provide items like food, hygienic products, clothes, cleaning supplies, and much more to survivors. Below are the distribution centers for continued Disaster Recovery sites.

ALABAMA:

Birmingham/Jefferson County (350 Industrial Blvd, B’ham, 35211)

Guntersville/Marshall County (1500 Sunset Drive - G’ville Rec Center) Casework ONLY

Guntersville/Marshall County (609 Blount Avenue)

Guntersville/Marshall County (1336 Gunter Avenue – Service Center Office)

Arab/Marshall County (428 North Main Street)

Rainsville/Dekalb County (McCurdy Avenue – Joint Distribution Site)

Fort Payne/Dekalb County (450 Gault Ave North – Service Center)

Cullman/Cullman County (103 3rd Ave - Thrift Store)

Anniston/Calhoun County (111 Town Center Drive – Ft. McClellan)

Russellville/Franklin County (204 Ash Ave. - Russellville Rec Center)

Decatur/Morgan County (Corps building - 114 14th Street, Decatur)

Huntsville/Madison County (Corps building -2114 Oakwood Ave)

Jasper/Walker County (Thrift Store - 207 20th St, Jasper, Al)

Montgomery/Elmore & Autauga Counties (900 Maxwell Blvd, Montgomery)

Oneonta/Blount County (333 Valley Road – Service Center)

MISSISSIPPI:

Meridian/Lauderdale County (120 6th Av South – Social Services) Serving Kemper, Lauderdale and Neshoba Counties

Houston/Chickasaw County (114 Washington Street, Houston, MS – Service Center)

Oxford/Lafayette County (2649 West Oxford Loop - Thrift Store)

Note Change in Location beginning Monday, May 16th

Starkville/Webster County (2240 Maben Sturgiss Rd – Service Center)

Tupelo/Lee County, serving Monroe County residents (527 Carnation St - Tupelo Corps) Opening on Monday, May 16, 2011

In order to maximize efforts and reduce duplication of services, The Salvation Army is asking that these individuals provide any form of identification and documentation of disaster related damage (disaster package received from FEMA after registering, an insurance damage report, or a licensed provider damage report).

Since April 27, The Salvation Army has served over 200,000 meals in affected areas across Alabama and Mississippi. The Salvation Army is now using 9 canteens (mobile kitchens) down from 40 canteens at its peak.

The Salvation Army has canteens continuing to operate in the following locations:

CALHOUN COUNTY:

Webster’s Chapel Baptist Church (3091 New Liberty Road, Wellington)

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

Salvation Army Distribution Warehouse (350 Industrial Drive, Birmingham)

MADISON COUNTY:

Publix Shopping Center (Jeff Rd/HWY 53)

MARION COUNTY:

Phil Campbell United Methodist Church

Phil Campbell, Alabama

TUSCALOOSA COUNTY:

American Legion (3800 University Blvd)

Holt Baptist Church (3101 Alabama Ave NE, Holt)

Forest Lake Baptist Church (107 18th St, Tuscaloosa)

Crescent Ridge Rd/Keene Dr.

Salvation Army Tuscaloosa Corps (Greensboro/21st St)

The following information represents services provided to disaster victims by The Salvation Army across the Southeast:

-The Salvation Army has served 211,000+ hot meals, 477,000+ sandwiches, snacks &drinks.

-The Salvation Army has provided 54 Mobile Feeding Units (Canteens), 1 Field Kitchen, capable of producing 20,000 hot meals per day, 1 Shower Unit, and 2 Satellite Communications trailers.

-The Salvation Army has distributed 43,000+ hygiene kits.

-The Salvation Army has supplied 6,500+ cleanup kits.

-The Salvation Army has ministered through its Pastoral Care to 9,100+ individuals.

-The Salvation Army has begun helping with emergency Social Services in several locations. -Salvation Army officers, employees and volunteers have served a total of 57,000+ hours

DONATIONS:

The best way to help tornado survivors and rescue workers is to make a financial contribution. Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors. The Salvation Army asks those who want to help to visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) and designate their gift "April 2011 Tornado Outbreak." Checks may be made out to: The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 100339, Atlanta, GA 30384-0339.

At this point, in-kind donations are not being accepted outside the disaster area. Used clothing and used furniture are seldom required during an incident. However, these gifts are vitally important in supporting the day-to-day work of your local Salvation Army. Please consider giving these items to your local Salvation Army Thrift Store or dial 1-800-SA-TRUCK.

ABOUT THE SALVATION ARMY:

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 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. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.