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 meals 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
Additionally, donations may be made by visiting www.salvationarmyusa.org or calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY and designating the funds to the Lone Grove, Oklahoma tornado. Monetary donations will ensure The Salvation Army can meet the most immediate needs of those impacted by the storm.