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The Salvation Army Continues Support In Winter Months |
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The Salvation Army’s Northwest Division has had a busy winter after being hit with severe weather in December and January.
Just one week into the New Year, 14 Western Washington counties suffered flooding, some only 13 months after the state’s worst floods in history. The Salvation Army responded quickly to affected areas where staff and volunteers provided food, shelter, spiritual care and any other duties needed to aid in the relief.
More than 600 clean-up kits were distributed throughout flood regions with more going out as recovery efforts continue. The Salvation Army is still assessing the situation in areas throughout flooded area as waters continue to recede.
Just a day prior to the floods, The Salvation Army fed hundreds of volunteers who raced against the clock to scrape at least a foot of snow from rooftops. Heavy snowfall caused roofs to collapse in Lewis County homes, some that had recently been renovated from the 2007 floods.
Heavy snows also poured down in Seattle, setting records for the worst storm in several decades with life-threatening cold temperatures and road closures that nearly shut down the city. Despite the snow, The Salvation Army’s annual Toy ‘N Joy event stayed open and more than 6,000 children received Christmas gifts.
Not everything operated as usual. The Salvation Army’s donation trucks at the Seattle Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) were inoperable for four days due to road conditions. The natural disaster equated to a financial disaster for the ARC, which provides free drug and alcohol rehabilitation services at the 114-bed facility.
The Salvation Army’s Family Thrift Stores, which provide the primary source of funding for the ARC program, also had to close for several days because of the storms. This loss of donations and store sales income has created a serious deficit in the center’s annual operational budget for the year ahead.
Doors that have remained open this season are at the William Booth Center. The center is available year-round, but the staff has made sure extra beds are available this winter. Usually utilized as supportive housing for nearly 200 men through emergency and transitional programs, the center has welcomed additional clients seeking warmth.
The Salvation Army also works closely with The City of Seattle to provide two additional shelters including a co-ed one at City Hall and a women-only shelter a separate location. The Army has access to refer clients to the city shelters as needed, from October through March.
The Northwest Division will continue providing assistance, shelter and other necessities as needed when natural disasters strike, the economy shifts or a lone person seeks a helping hand.
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