PRESS RELEASE: The Salvatin Army Serves Special Needs Populations and Parishes Southwest of New Orleans

Mass Feeding sites in Orleans, St. Bernard, and N. Jefferson Parishes ended September 6, 2008

Even as the electricity returns to the Greater New Orleans area, The Salvation Army will continue to serve the remaining special needs populations of those who continue to need help.

Mass feeding services in New Orleans and Jefferson Parishes are being scaled back to allow for the redistribution of resources to outlying communities in Plaquemines, Terrebonne, Lafourche, and St. Charles parishes still struggling to recover electricity, water, and basic services. Since feeding services began on September 2, 2008 the Salvation Army has served over 40,000 (as of 9/5) meals in the Greater New Orleans Area.

Feeding services will continue in Terrebonne, Lafourche, and Grand Isle for the foreseeable future.

With power outages in parishes southwest of New Orleans, many residents are forced to drive long distances for even a cold bottle of water or hot meal. The Salvation Army’s feeding services are being directed toward these areas in order to relieve some of the stress on residents seeking to care for their families and themselves.

The Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans will be providing meals to the New Orleans Study Center through Monday evening. This will be so that residents and staff will be able to continue their programs and recovery in a stable environment.

“Although our mass feeding programs are winding down, we recognize and are dedicated to serve those special needs populations that are particularly vulnerable after Hurricane Gustav. While we continue our regular schedule of mass feedings in the lower parishes (Terrebonne, Lafourche and Plaquemines, etc), it is these smaller groups in metro New Orleans that we continue to support,” said Captain Ethan Frizzell, New Orleans Area Commander.

The Salvation Army will be serving over 150 meals twice a day to Westminster Nursing Home in Kenner. These meals will help to provide comfort for their patients and help their staff to continue the work that needs to be done.

There are also other first responders still in the area and The Salvation Army will be feeding them at their special needs shelter on Jackson Street.

“The Salvation Army is concerned about the community and wants to be sure that it is meeting all the needs it can with the resources available to us. It is our pleasure to provide for those in need with food, hydration and prayer. While we share our community, we share the life lesson of hope through Jesus,” Captain Frizzell added.

The Salvation Army has continued to serve in Orleans, Jefferson, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St, Mary, and St. Martin Parishes. Around 36,000 meals were served to residents of New Orleans and south Louisiana on Friday by The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army currently has 32 mobile feeding units serving meals in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and areas south.