• Courtney Culpepper

The Salvation Army Calls in Reinforcements from Casper

Colorado Springs, CO (June 13, 2013 7:00 pm) – The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services team from Casper, WY arrived on site providing food and hydration to the Colorado Springs Police Department as they assist in the Black Forest Fire. The five member team spent close to two hours trapped in gridlock traffic during the 30 mile stretch between Larkspur and Colorado Springs, CO.

The Casper disaster response personnel drove 350 miles in a Salvation Army mobile feeding unit in response to a request for additional relief reinforcements.

This top-notch team is often called to serve outside their local area and was even invited to provide relief for the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation during a wildfire that erupted last summer.  On their last day of service, the team received a rare honor by the tribe’s chief— an arrowhead from the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

The Casper Emergency Disaster Services team joins current volunteer teams from Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and the Denver Metro area on site helping in the following fires:

Black Forest Fire

• Disaster response personnel are providing food, hydration and other assistance at the Palmer Ridge High School shelter, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and the Falcon Colorado Springs Police Substation.
• Fort Collins disaster response personnel provided 725 meals and 600 additional food items to evacuees located at the Elbert County Fairgrounds today.  The team will feed the remaining evacuees and 135 Boy Scouts dinner this evening and breakfast tomorrow morning.

Klinkus Fire

• Today, The Salvation Army provided lunch for 45 first responders fighting the Klinkus Fire in La Veta, CO. 

Royal Gorge Fire

• The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services teams are on standby to aid as necessary in the Royal Gorge Fire near Canon City.
• The Salvation Army would like to thank partners who allow us to continue providing relief to those affected by the Colorado Fires.  Today, King Soopers locations began collecting funds to support The Salvation Army’s relief efforts.  The stores will place collection bins at registers and invite customers to give.  Additionally, US Foods in coordination with Hickory House Restaurant has donated meals and other food items provided at the Elbert County Fairgrounds.

Donations:

The Salvation Army uses 100% of your disaster donations in support of local disaster relief operations.  Monetary donations help us meet the immediate needs of first responders and evacuees. To give, visit www.imsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) and designate “Colorado Fires.”

In--kind donations are not currently being accepted outside the disaster area.  However, these gifts are vitally important to your local Salvation Army. To give items locally, visit www.SATruck.com or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.