New Mobile Food Services Vehicle ready to respond to emergencies in Ottawa

The Salvation Army recently dedicated a newly refurbished Emergency Disaster Services vehicle in Ottawa as part of Emergency Preparedness Week.

Emergency Disaster Services in Ottawa works in partnership with the Retired Ottawa Firefighters Association (ROFFA) volunteers who staff the Mobile Food Services vehicle when called to assist during emergencies in the city.

These dedicated volunteers provide food and water to first responders at fire calls and other emergencies across Ottawa.

“This is the flagship Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services mobile vehicle  for Ontario. We truly appreciate the everyone at ROFFA and their volunteers for supporting the work of our EDS teams in Ottawa over the years,” Theresa Antonietti, Emergency Disaster Services Coordinator with The Salvation Army in Ontario. said. “We pride ourselves that we are ready within less than an hour to provide services to Ottawa’s first responders and victims of disaster, and we couldn’t do it without the support of ROFFA.”

The Mobile Food Services vehicle was repurposed from providing daily meals services, but with an increasing number of large-scale emergencies in Ottawa, a new vehicle was needed for on-scene response.

Thanks to Frontline Credit Union, who funded the upgrades with a generous donation, the vehicle is now much better equipped to serve during emergencies.

Upgrades include new cabinets, storage and a refrigerator/freezer, as well as new grills, counters, preparation stations and food warmers with the capacity to cook and serve 4,000 meals daily. An external generator provides capability to provide electricity in remote areas. For safety and security, the unit comes with a fully upgraded fire suppression system.

Thanks to Ottawa Fire Services, the City of Ottawa, Signarama-Nepean and Firehouse Subs for their participation in the dedication ceremony.