Windsor, North Carolina -As Captain Teresa Bush picked her way through a field in Windsor, North Carolina, the first thing she noticed were the toys. A bicycle hanging at the top of a tree. Stuffed animals strewn across a field. Playthings scattered among the remnants of the houses that once held them. All evidence of the lives of the children who lived in the neighborhood devastated by the tornado from tropical storm Isaias. She knew The Salvation Army had to do something.
“My heart is breaking for the children. Children have been through so much this year. Their schools closed abruptly. They have to social distance from their friends. Their world has changed and during this change, their playthings became beloved friends. Because of this tornado, they have lost those, too,” said Captain Bush.
She came up with a plan.
“This is what we do every year at Christmas–provide toys for children. Why can’t we extend this to our disaster work?” asked Captain Bush.
Currently, The Salvation Army is working with partners to help families replace necessities like furniture, clothing and household goods. As community caseworkers meet with families to assess their needs, they will also gather information about the children in the family, including favorite toys and interests. Employees and volunteers at The Salvation Army will pull together the toys and deliver them to the children.
“We are helping the littlest survivors, one toy at a time,” added Bush.
