• Eric Short

Salvation Army Responding to Tornado-Damaged Area in West Tennessee

Covington, TN – The Salvation Army of Jackson is preparing their mobile kitchen unit to respond to Covington, Tennessee, on Sunday, April 2. The response comes at the request of the City of Covington. A damaging tornado tore through Tipton County, damaging homes and businesses and cutting power to thousands. The Salvation Army will be on the scene on Sunday to provide snacks, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care to tornado survivors and first responders. A unit from The Salvation Army in Memphis responded to the hard-hit community of Wynne, Arkansas, on Saturday as well.

“With a presence in almost every zip code in America, The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to quickly respond to disasters such as this with a clear understanding of each community’s need,” said Lieutenant Mark Cancia of the Salvation Army in Jackson.

Bo Sells is the Emergency Disaster Services Director for the Kentucky-Tennessee Division of The Salvation Army and has had a lot of experience in disaster relief recently, including the December 2021 tornadoes in Western Kentucky and the August 2022 floods in Eastern Kentucky. “In times of crisis, The Salvation Army serves the whole person- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Some effects of disasters are unseen – many survivors and first responders suffer emotional stress and trauma,” said Sells. “That’s why trained emergency personnel work alongside The Salvation Army ministry to ensure people are supported through whatever trauma they’re experiencing.”

The Salvation Army will begin serving from their mobile kitchen in Covington around 1:00pm on Sunday at Cobb-Parr Memorial Park. From there, the unit will rove around town to assess damage and determine where they are most needed. “The Salvation Army is here to bring hope to survivors and first responders, and we’ll be here for as long as needed,” added Lieutenant Cancia.

If you would like to support The Salvation Army’s relief efforts in West Tennessee, you can donate in the following ways:

• Online at www.helpsalvationarmy.org
• Donate by phone by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769)
• Mail checks to: The Salvation Army - Disaster Relief, PO Box 2229, Louisville, KY 40201 (write 2023 TN Tornadoes on check)