Walking up to The Salvation Army relief team where they were serving at Catawba Springs Baptist Church, Mary Lynn Hammac handed them a $100 bill and asked how she could help. “I’m not fine, but there are a lot of people worse off than me. I just want to give back,” she said.
“God bless y’all,” Mary Lynn added.
In this small rural community near Brewton, Alabama, Hurricane Isaias left families with damaged and destroyed homes, fallen trees, and downed power lines. Still without electricity and many without running water, neighbors had been doing whatever they could to help one another since the storm. For most of the community, The Salvation Army’s arrival marked their first opportunity to receive emergency food, water, and supplies.
When The Salvation Army arrived, the church and volunteer fire department immediately posted on their Facebook pages, and the local school was contacted to spread the word. Within minutes, the parking lot filled. In just over an hour, the first canteen’s food and supplies were gone. With more neighbors still needing help, The Salvation Army brought in another stocked truck to keep serving.
Yet, even as neighbors came for help, they stepped forward to help others.
Jennifer, the church secretary, had moved to the community just shy of three months earlier. Much of her own house was destroyed, yet she still stood in the heat, handing out food, drinks, and supplies to her neighbors alongside The Salvation Army team.
Showing the team a video of her home following the hurricane, she paused at her mother’s painting above the mantel. The roof above it was almost completely gone, but the painting remained completely undamaged.
“The only thing in my home that was irreplaceable was not touched,” she said, a small smile crossing her face. To Jennifer, it was a reminder that God knew how much her mom’s painting meant to her, that He was still in control, and that she was going to be fine.
Then she continued serving.
Pastor Jeff Edwards spent the day handing out food, helping neighbors, and moving supplies wherever they were needed. He shared the church’s long history of service, which he said began 208 years ago, even before Alabama became a state.
Nearby, Cindy Jackson greeted every arriving car. “How can we help you, honey?”
She refused to stay seated and hopped up every time someone pulled into the parking lot for help. Cindy and her husband, Charles, have been church members for more than 53 years and serve with the McCall Volunteer Fire Department across the street. When asked why she decided to become a volunteer firefighter later in life, in her sixties, she replied simply, “I just wanted to help my community.”
Families were grateful for water, food, and supplies. Fruit Roll-Ups and Gushers were the highlight for the kids, who often came back for seconds! Parents were just glad to see them excited and smiling.
“They were all just so grateful we were there,” said Rob Ellington, a trained Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services volunteer. “Everyone was just so kind and giving despite what they had just been through.”
The Salvation Army served nearly 700 meals, 1,000 drinks, and more than 2,300 snacks. Families received lunch boxes, shelf-stable meals for the days ahead, cases of water, snacks, and supplies to help with cleanup.
For families facing an uncertain recovery, the day brought practical help and hope: friendly faces, clean water, good food and people ready to lend a hand or say a prayer.
Before the team left for the evening, residents thanked them for the help and asked if The Salvation Army would be back the next day.
In Catawba, caring for one another was already a way of life. The Salvation Army was grateful to come alongside them and looks forward to returning.
You can help The Salvation Army continue serving neighbors in Catawba and other communities affected by Hurricane Isaias. Give at HelpSalvationArmy.org to support ongoing relief efforts.
