The Salvation Army has been deployed to the southern Oklahoma City area in the wake of Monday’s devastating tornado. The twister touched down west of Newcastle, Oklahoma at approximately 2:56pm and tore a 22 mile path of destruction northeast through the city of Moore before dissipating prior to reaching Stanley Draper Lake. Early estimates suggest that the tornado peaked as a category EF4 which includes winds speeds between 166 and 200 mph.

Emergency Disaster Services has been on the scene across three counties providing food, beverage, and spiritual support to survivors and first responders.

• In Pottawatomie County: The McAlester and Shawnee disaster response teams served multiple locations in the Shawnee area, including devastated neighborhoods and rural areas throughout the night and day. Around 3:00 PM all units were pulled into safety as tremendous storms threatened the area. Response teams were sent out once again after an all-clear was given.
• In Lincoln County: The Enid, OK canteen provided breakfast, lunch & dinner to the Carney, OK area throughout the early morning hours and all day today.
• In Cleveland County: The Central Oklahoma Area Command Disaster Service Unit responded to the Little Axe area with breakfast, lunch & dinner today. The Salvation Army was responding, even as one of our Salvation Army family member’s home was destroyed.

The Salvation Army is taking donations to help the relief effort. Your donations make a real difference:

• A $10 donation feeds a disaster survivor for one day.
• A $30 donation provides one food box, containing staple foods for a family of four, or one household cleanup kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets and other cleaning supplies.
• A $100 donation can serve snacks and drinks for 125 survivors and emergency personnel at the scene of a disaster.
• A $250 donation can provide one hot meal to 100 people or keep a hydration station operational for 24 hours.
• A $500 donation keeps a Salvation Army canteen (mobile feeding unit) fully operational for one day.

Donors are encouraged to give online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).

You can also text the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone; to confirm your gift, respond with the word “Yes.”*

Donations in the form of checks designated to Oklahoma Tornado Relief may also be mailed to:
The Salvation Army
PO Box 12600
Oklahoma City, OK 73157

The Salvation Army mobilized Monday night to help disaster response units in hard hit areas in Central Oklahoma including Moore where at least 51 people were killed and South Oklahoma City.

Monetary donations are the most critical need as supplies and personnel are mobilized. Donors are encouraged to give online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY. You can also text the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone; to confirm your gift, respond with the word “Yes”. Donations in the form of checks designated to Oklahoma Tornado Relief may also be mailed to : The Salvation Army , P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK 73157.

While most of us want to give our time or money to help the needy, let’s face it along with our hectic schedules and this struggling economy, giving back can be challenging. That’s why this busy wife and mother of two, decided to use her passion for couponing to make a difference in the lives of others.

 Cyndy recalls why she began couponing: “I decided to start couponing due to harsh times. My husband’s the only one working and we have two kids who are getting older and need more as they age. Everything is on the rise. I can remember before couponing, I spent so much every week on necessities. After I learned to coupon, I began realizing how much I was saving my family and really felt good about it.”

Why she gives back: “I just felt like giving since I know that there are families who do not have much and are always making decisions to support their family. Times are hard and if what I donated can ease those hard times then I am more than glad to share.”

If you or someone you know is looking for a creative way to give back: Couponing is a great way to get started. You can donate from your stockpile or use current coupons and sales to affordably acquire the items requested for donations.

The Salvation Army-Family Services department: Every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30-11:00 am, the FSD hands out personal need items. All that is needed is a current ID to receive a bag filled with things like: Soap, toothbrushes, razors and shampoo. Participants are eligible every 30 days.

For a list of items needed for donations please call Linda Wycliff at 517.484.4424

 Thank You Cyndy, on behalf of The Salvation Army for your willingness to give!

The Capital Area Salvation Army has been providing free produce to tri-county residents for over 15 years. The program provides fresh fruits and vegetables at no cost to community residents. We seek to encourage and make available nutritional options so that our residents have a healthier alternative than prepackaged food.

Our produce distribution acts as a weekly supplement to individuals’ and families’ grocery shopping. Over the past year we have expanded our distribution programming into Eaton County. We found that Eaton County residents were driving longer distances to participate in the program and after searching for the right location, we were fortunate to partner with Real Life Church in Charlotte once a month.

The Capital Area Salvation Army always looks to coordinate our efforts with others in the community. We partner with the Greater Lansing Food Bank and the USDA to secure fresh produce at little to no cost and we receive private monetary donations to supplement the program. It is our hope that the produce distribution helps to create nutritional meals and adds to the community’s overall well-being.

~ Story written by Molly Maynard Director of Social Services

Produce is distributed on Wednesdays at 3305 S. Pennsylvania. We open the doors at 9:00 a.m. for people to pick up a numbers, and distribution begins at 1:00 p.m.

Produce is distributed the first three Thursdays in St. Johns at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1108 N Us Highway 27. We open the doors at 9:00 a.m. for people to pick up numbers, and distribution begins at 1:00 p.m.

Produce is distributed the last Thursday of the month in Charlotte at Real Life Church, 228 S. Cochran Avenue. We open the doors for numbers 11:00 and distribution begins at 12:00 p.m.