• Philip Burn

Emergency Assistance and Prayers Delivered in San Marcos MARC

Dallas, Texas (June 3, 2015) – Salvation Army case workers and staff have met with a steady stream of survivors since the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) opened in San Marcos on Sunday. Delivering practical assistance in the form of gift cards, the staff has also been privileged to share prayers with many residents.

“We’ve stayed a couple of nights in a hotel, a few with my brother, and in the truck,” explained Jose. “It’s not been easy with the kids but we’re doing much better than most.” It is a tragic story repeated by many people who have lost so much due to the record flooding of the Blanco and San Marcos rivers. An electrician by trade, Jose was fortunately able to salvage most of the tools crucial to his livelihood. At the conclusion of his short interview the staff member offered to pray with Jose. Without hesitation he welcomed the opportunity and paused for a moment’s prayer with The Salvation Army case worker.

The MARC was a hive of activity again on Tuesday as people from the devastated community sought assistance from a range of agencies including The Salvation Army.The Williamson County mobile kitchen (Austin Area Command) served meals, snacks, and drinks outside and volunteers organized and distributed clean up kits and donated items including diapers, wipes, toilet roll, gloves and hygiene items. Each day, volunteers have arrived ready to serve and aid the work of The Salvation Army. They have been put to work helping survivors gather essential basic supplies from donations received. The San Marcos MARC closed on Tuesday evening and will relocate to the city of Blanco on Wednesday, at The Old Courthouse, 301 East Main Street.

Two mobile kitchens from the San Antonio Area Command roamed through affected neighborhoods serving lunch to anyone in need. In Wimberley, The Salvation Army Laundry Unit, located at 100 Carney Lane, helped residents and volunteers wash their clothes and belongings, free of charge. Julie West, a Salvation Army employee from San Antonio, who has now worked in the relief effort for ten consecutive days, has done numerous loads of laundry for grateful survivors. “I’ve been so happy to wash clothes and bedding for the people here in Wimberley. They have been so appreciative of all the help they have received from The Salvation Army,” said Julie.

Financial donations are the best way to support the ongoing Salvation Army flood relief efforts. Individuals can donate:
• By phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
• Online at  http://tsatx.org/floodandtornadorelief
• By texting  TXFLOODS to 51555 (message and data rates may apply)
Text HELP for help. Text STOP to unsubscribe.
• By mail to The Salvation Army, PO Box 560001, Dallas, TX 75235

If you are interested in learning more about The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) in Texas, or to become a local disaster volunteer, please visit: www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.

For the most up-to-date emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army in Texas, please visit: www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and follow latest updates on Twitter @SalArmyTXEDS and Facebook at www.facebook.com/SalArmyTXEDS.

About The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services:
“The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” While every disaster is unique and creates its own special needs, the core of The Salvation Army's disaster program consists of several basic services. And while these services address many of the typical needs of a disaster survivor, Salvation Army disaster relief is also flexible. Our services are adapted to the specific needs of individuals and communities and scalable according to the magnitude of the disaster.

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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 more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a broad 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 The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.