A busy season for Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services
Prairie Division – All across Canada, many Canadians are facing many challenging events at the hand of Mother Nature. The Prairie Division – which includes Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northwest Ontario – has not escaped unscathed. Since the spring, The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) Prairie Division team has been responding to overland flooding in the south and fires in the north.
Recently, EDS teams in Saskatchewan have been providing assistance and support to flood evacuees in Saskatoon, Melfort and Prince Albert.
“We have served meals and snacks three times a day to about 200 people for the last week in Saskatoon,” explains Major Mike Hoeft, Area Commander for Prairie West. “In Melfort we have been serving two meals a day to 75 people and in Prince Albert we have also served meals. In all three locations we have been providing clothing vouchers as required to those impacted, as well as emotional and spiritual care.”
During recent major flooding in Alberta, The Salvation Army EDS dispatched workers and volunteers to Medicine Hat and Calgary. On Friday, July 5th, more workers will be heading to Calgary to provide assistance with clean up.
In Manitoba, EDS teams have provided help and assistance in Dauphin when the ice wall brought devastation in May, in June EDS workers were deployed to Virden to provide refreshments and help to those being evacuated from the RM of Wallace. This, EDS has been providing support, assistance and emotional and spiritual care to evacuees from Gillam.
“Evacuees from the town of Gillam travelled to Thompson through flames on both sides of the highway,” says Major Betty-Lou Topping, Salvation Army Corps Office in Thompson. “The Salvation Army is working with the province of Manitoba and offering emotional and spiritual care as well as meeting the physical needs of these people who are being impacted by forest fires here in the north.”
Even after disaster has passed and attention is turned elsewhere, The Salvation Army will still be there to stand in the gap for any unmet need. Please support the efforts of The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services. Call 1.800.Sal.Army today and let us know you want to help. You can also make a donation online at www.salvationarmy.ca/donate. Every little bit helps give hope and restores dignity to those who have lost so much. Thank you.
