• Lt. Jared Martin

Hurricane Survivors Find Comfort in Christ

Brunswick, GA (September 17, 2017) – “I have been trying to find something else to focus on so I can forget all of this,” said a Hurricane Irma survivor. First a family member got cancer, then the death of a loved one, and then her mother began the long road of Alzheimer’s. Add to that Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma. This woman survived one calamity after the other. Now, at the end of her emotional rope, she was ready for a little help.

Captain Chris Powell, Commanding Officer of The Salvation Army of Brunswick, drove through her neighborhood with clean up kits and hot meals. He saw that this survivor needed more than food. He listened to her story and answered her question; what can you focus on when your problems outweigh your hope? “Focus on Jesus. Let God wrap his hands around you,” said Captain Powell, warmly.

Captain Powell prayed with the survivor. Since The Salvation Army does not receive government tax money for disaster services, the disaster workers can freely share that Jesus is the hope of the world. In fact, the mission of The Salvation Army is to “preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” Jesus motivates The Salvation Army’s service. “We have a drive to help where help is needed,” said Captain Powell, “Christ in my heart means that I am there to help people.”

How to help those Harvey and Irma Hurt

A financial contribution is the best way to help.  A cash donation allows charitable relief agencies to use monetary contributions to purchase exactly what disaster survivors need.   Monetary contributions are also easy to get to the disaster area. Moving a container of donated goods can sometimes cost more than the value of the items. Getting a donated commodity into containers and onto a ship, or onto a truck, across the sea or across the country to the disaster site, through the port costs and the customs’ tariffs, quality checked, quantity checked and sorted, and organized into warehouses, incurs a cost at each step. Supplies can almost always be purchased locally at the disaster site and provide savings in multiple ways.  Finally, money used to purchase needed items locally can support local and state economies, helping local businesses and workers, which have suffered losses in the wake of the disaster event.

Online: helpsalvationarmy.org

Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY

Mail checks to: The Salvation Army P.O. BOX 1959 Atlanta, GA 30301

Please make checks payable to The Salvation Army and designate 'Hurricane 2017' on all checks.

To receive a donation link via text: Text STORM to 51555

The Salvation Army does not place an administrative fee on disaster donations.  If you donate to hurricane relief efforts (and designate your gift to a specific disaster) 100 percent of the gift will be used in support of that event.  It may be used to provide food and drinks to survivors, cleaning supplies and other essential commodities, direct financial aid to those effected, or to support disaster relief workers serving in the area.