As 12 buses, carrying residents of Galveston Island who evacuated during Hurricane Ike set off from San Antonio back to the Island, Salvation Army personnel will be waiting for their arrival. The Victims Relief group requested that The Salvation Army assist in providing emotional support to these Galveston residents as they return to the Island and see their devastated homes for the first time.
Approximately 1,200 people will be returning on the San Antonio buses, with 12 more bus loads arriving on the Island Wednesday. The Salvation Army is prepared to meet evacuees with not only words of encouragement, but also clean-up kits and a warm meal.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Pasadena and the surrounding Houston area, clean-up kits, hygiene kits and clothing vouchers are being distributed to Ike victims. Social services also are being provided during normal business hours.
In the Beaumont area, recovery efforts remain concentrated in the areas of West Orange, High Island, Sabine Pass and Bridge City. These cities are in desperate need of hygiene items, clean-up kits, bottled water and other supplies, and The Salvation Army is receiving such items from the Incident Command Post of The Salvation Army in Pasadena. The needs remain dire as electricity is not expected to return until the end of October.
We are still currently accepting monetary donations:
Mail
The
Salvation Army
Texas 2008 Hurricane Relief Fund
PO Box 36627
Dallas, TX 75235
Online
www.salvationarmytexas.org
Telephone
1-800-SAL-ARMY
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About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of
the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name
without discrimination since 1865. Over 33 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 at-risk children. About 83 cents
of every dollar raised is used to support those services in close to 9,000
communities nationwide. For more information, go to http://www.salvationarmyusa.org.
Submitted by Valerie Monteith, Lead PIO and Snr. Public & Media
Relations Director, Texas Division Cell: 214-956-6284