24 May 2011

Tornadoes have slammed Missouri and several states in the central US, where need is high and the fatality rate is expected to rise. The Salvation Army is on the front lines throughout Missouri, Kansas, and Minnesota areas, offering food, clothing, shelter and other basic necessities.

The Salvation Army is committed to serving those in need, at the time of need, in the place of need without discrimination. All Salvation Army disaster services are free and funded entirely through the generosity of donors.

MISSOURI

The Salvation Army is supporting relief efforts in Joplin, Missouri, which was struck by a deadly tornado Sunday, May 22. Four mobile feeding kitchens are stationed in Joplin, each capable of serving several thousand meals. They are providing mass feedings for residents and first responders. The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network also arrived in Joplin on Monday, May 23, to assist survivors in locating loved ones through a ham radio network.

KANSAS

Meanwhile, in hard-hit Reading, Kansas, which was nearly demolished by a tornado late Saturday, May 21. Two Salvation Army mobile feeding kitchens (one stationary and one roaming) served meals, snacks and cold drinks to more than 250 people Sunday, May 22. They will continue serving hundreds of meals each day through the rest of the week.

MINNESOTA

Three Salvation Army mobile kitchens and crews are on the scene in St. Louis Park, Fridley and North Minneapolis, to help families and emergency workers after the storms. Much of the damage caused by uprooted trees is making travel difficult in some areas. One of The Salvation Army's transitional housing units in Fridley sustained minor damage and none of the four men living at the house were injured.

Currently, residents of the Northwest interested in aiding the relief effort are encouraged to give financial donations, which offer great flexibility and enable local disaster responders to purchase exactly what is needed as close to the disaster zone as possible.

There are four ways people can contribute money to The Salvation Army relief effort in the Midwest: 

1. Text the words "JOPLIN" to 80888 to make a $10 donation. Confirm when prompted with "yes."
2. By phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY - designate gift for ‘Joplin Tornado'
3. On-line at: www.salvationarmynw.org - designate gift for ‘Joplin Tornado'
4. By mail: Send your check, marked ‘Joplin Tornado' to The Salvation Army, 3637 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111

Salvation Army units throughout the country are on standby and ready to help. At this time, The Salvation Army is not accepting in-kind donations from the general public for disaster relief operations in the Midwest. It is more efficient for disaster relief agencies to purchase needed resources locally and for immediate distribution with the disaster area. The best way for donors to help the Midwest tornado survivors is to make a cash donation. For the most current information about Salvation Army disaster relief efforts, please visit our blog HERE.