Salvation Army Ottawa Golf Tournament Raises nearly $20,000 for Emergency Disaster Services

It was a beautiful day on the greens for golfers coming together to play a round and support The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) program.

The Salvation Army Golf Classic at Eagle Creek Golf Course in Ottawa hosted 120 golfers who raised nearly $20,000.

Golfers were greeted by Salvation Army mission partners and received a golfer gift bag with items donated from our sponsors along with snacks, water and a free pair of decorative socks.

This fun day of golf for participants at all levels included a putting contest and a hole in one contest to win great prizes!

During the delicious buffet dinner awards and prizes were presented to golfers and Salvation Army EDS Coordinator Theresa Antonietti spoke about the work of EDS in Ottawa.

Theresa explained that EDS responds to local and national emergencies of varying severity.  “There is no emergency too big for EDS and with localized teams all across Canada, response is always available. Today’s EDS responders and volunteers provide food and hydration, emotional and spiritual care, donation management and disaster and social services resources.”

EDS in Ottawa also responds to residential and industrial fires. They are dispatched by Ottawa Fire Services to provide food and hydration to both residents displaced by the fire and emergency personnel who are sometimes working long hours at the scene.  EDS also provides emotional and spiritual care, clothing and household items to those in need during and after an emergency.

Theresa told that crowd that in Ottawa, EDS runs two vehicles including a 20-year-old retrofitted canteen truck that can serve 4,000 meals during an emergency and a smaller Transit canteen vehicle used at smaller community events to serve hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night or water during the hot summer days.

EDS responded to a fire in a multi-residential building in April 2022 that damaged all 13 units. EDS staff and mission partners served 150 hamburgers to first responders at the scene and provided support to residents at the City of Ottawa reception centre. “I remember distinctly at 3:00 am, a five-year old boy was so tired and started to cry, so I sat down on the floor with him, and we both watched Paw Patrol on my phone,” explained Theresa.

EDS also responded to the recent derecho storm that devasted the city of Ottawa on May 21^st, 2022 causing widespread power outages to 180,000 customers and caused damage in every neighbourhood of the city. EDS provided meals to anyone in need at four City of Ottawa reception centres.

“The Salvation Army is so grateful to all our sponsors, mission partners and participants who helped make this year’s golf tournament possible,” said Heather Prystanski, Salvation Army Event Planner and Tournament Coordinator  “The assistance we provide is unconditional and available to all and would not be possible without the support of our community.”

To support The Salvation Army EDS program or any of our many other programs please visit www.salvationarmy.ca or 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

By: Caroline Franks