CHATTAHOOCHEE, FL – Florida resident Dana Hastings has been overwhelmed since Hurricane Michael devastated her neighborhood in Gadsden County. “They’re saying I might not get power back until December. I don’t know what to do,” said Dana.
The Category 4 storm destroyed numerous houses throughout Dana’s community, including her neighbor’s home. As a result, Dana and her husband have been sheltering three other families, causing her initial household of 7 to more than double to 19 people. Now, basic needs are hard to come by for the 14 adults and 5 children living under one roof.
One afternoon, Dana stopped by The Salvation Army’s local feeding site and timidly asked for food to help feed everyone in the house. Dana was pleasantly surprised when, without question, the canteen crew provided her with a total of 19 meals.
“You can tell she wasn’t expecting us to say yes,” said canteen crew member, Roger Williams. “When she came back to the feeding site the next day, it was a little easier for her to ask for help.”
After a family has lost everything in a disaster, The Salvation Army not only steps in to help meet the survivors’ most urgent needs but is also there to serve as they work to put their lives back together.
