RELEASE: Served 100,000 Meals in Last 72 Hours

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


THE SALVATION ARMY HAS SERVED NEARLY 100,000 MEALS IN THE LAST 72 HOURS IN PREPARATION FOR HURRICANE GUSTAV
Evacuees, volunteers, emergency response workers focus of relief efforts

Alexandria, Va. (August 31, 2008) – The Salvation Army has served nearly 100,000 meals already throughout the Gulf Coast area as a result of Hurricane Gustav. This includes food service for evacuees, volunteers and other emergency response workers who are helping in the evacuation. The Salvation Army has more than 100 mobile feeding units, two 54’ mobile kitchens and multiple fixed feeding sites at its Corps and other outposts throughout the region. The Army’s total current feeding capability from Texas to Florida is more than 560,000 meals per day.

On Sunday, The Army set up feeding sites on evacuation routes, including at the Alabama Welcome Center on Interstate 20/59. And, it provided lunch and dinner for 300 bus drivers at a site near Hattiesburg, MS. It has multiple other locations open through Texas and the surrounding states.

In addition, The Army has staging areas in Hattiesburg and Tyler, TX to support the Gulf Coast. Volunteers, staff and vehicles are converging on those locations to wait for deployment with other equipment and supplies.

The Army also has a number of shelters open throughout the region, including five shelters operating in Texas, with others potentially available.

“Right now, The Salvation Army is fulfilling its mission to serve by helping evacuees, volunteers and response workers in the Gulf Coast area who are preparing for this very dangerous storm” said Major Gene Hogg, Divisional Secretary for Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. “People need to heed the warning of the government and get out of the way of this hurricane.”

In addition to feeding, sheltering and evacuation, The Salvation Army is prepared to provide:
· Clean-up kits containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies
· Hygiene kits
· Drinking water
· Shower units
· First-aid supplies
· Missing persons support through The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (www.satern.org) and
· Emotional/spiritual care

The Salvation Army encourages all residents of areas in Gustav’s path to prepare an emergency supply kit, an evacuation plan and stay informed to all warnings and evacuation orders. Disaster response professionals recommend having a three-to-five day supply of food and water for each member of your family as well as flashlights, medication, and battery powered radio.

The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by Hurricane Gustav to visit http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/ or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Monetary donations are needed to meet survivors’ most immediate needs. A $100 donation will feed a family of four for two days and will provide two cases of drinking water and one household cleanup kit (containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies). The Salvation Army currently is not accepting donations of clothing and furniture for storm victims; however, please continue supporting your local Salvation Army thrift store and the much needed programs your in-kind gifts support.

###
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 128 years in the United States. Nearly 29 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/.