• Kimberly George

Greater Chattanooga Salvation Army Stretched Like Never Before

Chattanooga, TN (March 9, 2012)– The Chattanooga area has never experienced two major disasters in less than a year.  The Salvation Army was still serving Chattanooga area residents from last year’s tornadoes when the storms came through last Friday, one week ago today.  The organization raised $380,000 for the April 2011 tornado relief efforts, and has spent over $640,000 with another $500,000 committed to rebuilding.  With the latest storms, The Salvation Army foresees the community being in disaster recovery for at least another year.

The Salvation Army has been on location since Friday providing hot meals and emotional/spiritual care for affected residents. To date, they have served 2,713 nutritious meals, 2,787 drinks and provided emotional/spiritual support to more than 500 neighbors.  The Salvation Army plans on continuing its mobile feeding services through the weekend.

This past Christmas the number of Angels was up 48% from the two previous years.  Also, The Salvation Army’s Social Services Department has more clients than ever before needing emergency utility and food assistance due in part to the poor economy.  “I’ve never seen our budget so stretched, but I have faith in this community; they have never let us down before,” says Area Commander Major Al Newsome.

Many residents, however, are still in need.  Monetary donations are the best way to help tornado survivors.  The Salvation Army asks that you donate at www.csarmy.org; call 1-800-SAL-ARMY; or text “storm” to 80888 for a $10.00 gift on your cell phone bill.  One hundred percent of your gift will go to the relief efforts.  You can also donate nonperishable food items at the “Let’s Can Hunger” Food Drive this weekend at Walmart on Hwy 153 in Hixson and Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe.  The food drive will run from 10 am – 6 pm.  Volunteers are still needed.  Please call or text 423-505-1052 to sign up.

For more information, please contact Kimberly George at 423-503-1801 or kimberly_george@uss.salvationary.org.

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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established 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 carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.