• Dulcinea Cuellar Kimrey

The Salvation Army Continues Disaster Response in Palm Beach County

West Palm Beach, FL (August 30, 2012) – Salvation Army personnel continue disaster response in Loxahatchee and the Acreage to further meet survivor needs following Tropical Storm Isaac flooding.  The disaster response center is stocked with hot meals, water and dry socks. 

As of Tuesday, The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County has distributed 961 hot meals, 1,833 cold drinks and 1,038 snacks. 

Salvation Army disaster response units are currently positioned in the following areas:

-The Acreage Community Park, 6701 140th Avenue North serving lunch and dinner

-Intersection of Okeechobee Blvd & Seminole Road at in Loxahatchee serving lunch and dinner

Yesterday in the Acreage Community Park, The Salvation Army met Rose Zuniga.  Rose has been sleeping in her car for two days simply because she cannot get down her street to her home.  “When I left from work on Monday and headed home, I started down my street, but there was so much water it came over the engine and stalled it out,” said Rose.  “I was afraid to get out of my car into the water that night because it was getting dark out,” she continued.  Rose spent the night in her car surrounded by water for 12 hours until it finally started back up.  Rose had her car serviced after she got out of the water but had no place to go since she has only lived in Palm Beach County for six months. 

By coming by the disaster response center The Salvation Army was able to provide spiritual care to Rose and get her in contact with Peter Speckman, an American Red Cross volunteer, who informed her that the shelter is still open at the South Florida Fair Grounds.  There, Rose was able to shower and have a safe place to spend the night so she could return to work today.

The best way to help survivors like Rose and relief 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 people who want to help those affected throughout the country by Isaac to visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).  Donors may also contribute $10 via their phone bill by text messaging the word STORM to 80888, and confirming the donation with the word, “Yes.”   Checks may be made out to The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, 2100 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33404.  Please designate Disaster Relief on all checks. 

· A $10 donation feeds a disaster survivor for one day
· A $30 donation provides one food box, containing staple foods for a family of four, or one household cleanup kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets and other cleaning supplies
· A $100 donation can serve snacks and drinks for 125 survivors and emergency personnel at the scene of a disaster
· A $250 donation can provide one hot meal to 100 people or keep a hydration station operational for 24 hours
· A $500 donation keeps a Salvation Army canteen (mobile feeding unit) fully operational for one day

At this point, in-kind donations are not being accepted.  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 our local Salvation Army Family Store.

For the latest emergency disaster services news, please visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and follow the EDS team on Twitter @SalArmyEDS.  Interested parties may also visit www.salvationarmypalmbeachcounty.org and follow www.Facebook.com/SalArmyPBCo

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About The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County
The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1922, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 89 years. Over 19,000 Palm Beach County residents 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 our local communities. For more information, go to www.salvationarmypalmbeachcounty.org  & www.Facebook.com/SalArmyPBCo