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Released 25 February 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA (February 20, 2009) - The Salvation Army of Ardmore,
Oklahoma continues to lend assistance to the community of Lone Grove, Oklahoma
which was hit by a deadly tornado just ten days ago. After serving close to
6,000 meals, thousands of drinks and snacks, The Salvation Army ceased
emergency operations as of Sunday evening, February 15.
Since Sunday, Captain Ernie Hull, Ardmore Corps Officer, has seen numerous
storm victims requesting assistance with food, lodging, and more. Beginning
this Saturday, February 21, The Salvation Army will be part of a Disaster
Recovery Center (DRC) in Lone Grove for residents with property damages and who
were otherwise affected by the recent tornado. The Salvation Army will have
Emergency Assistance Intake Forms and staff on hand to answer questions
regarding available programs and services. Food boxes as well as toiletry
items and paper goods will be provided as long as supplies last for storm
victims.
An influx of 500 volunteers is expected to arrive this weekend to help clear
debris in the damaged areas to assist those persons who lost their homes or
need assistance with clearing their property. The Salvation Army has been
requested to provide food and beverages to the volunteers. The Ardmore mobile
feeding unit (canteen) will be put back into service over the weekend to help
fulfill the request.
Captain Hull is working very closely with local and state emergency
management, the City of Lone Grove, and Oklahoma Volunteer Organizations Active
in Disaster (OKVOAD) to ensure the needs of those affected are met. Assisting
Captain Hull with the Lone Grove Community is the current Advisory Board Chair
of the Ardmore Salvation Army, Darryl Howard, who lives in Lone Grove but was
not impacted by the storm. He has been very involved in relief efforts on
behalf of The Salvation Army and the community of Lone Grove. And, just last
weekend, a group of WalMart volunteers were out helping a fellow employee who
lost everything in the tornado. It just so happened that a canteen stopped and
fed the volunteers lunch. Little did the staff and volunteers on the canteen
know that the manager of the WalMart was volunteering as well. The manager is
also a part of The Salvation Army Advisory Board.
As the community of Lone Grove continues to recover and begins to rebuild,
The Salvation Army will be there to assist individuals and families in need.
Financial donations are desperately needed to help cover the costs of the
emergency relief efforts and to provide storm victims with additional
assistance to get back on their feet, especially those without insurance.
The following addresses and numbers may be used to make a donation:
The Salvation Army in Ardmore (street address)
123 "A" Street SW
Ardmore, OK
Or
PO Box 1483 (mailing address)
Ardmore, OK
73402
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. Nearly 30 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 nearly 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to
www.salvationarmyusa.org.
LOCAL CONTACT: Captain Ernie Hull-Ardmore Corps Officer-(580) 223-6176
Submitted by
Cindy Fuller, The Salvation Army, Arkansas/Oklahoma Public Information
Officer
cell (405)830-6549
E-mail: Cindy_Fuller@uss.salvationarmy.org