Salvation Army responds to Colorado fires

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As fires burn across Colorado, The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) teams continue to provide relief to evacuees from both the Waldo Canyon Fire and the High Park Fire. The Salvation Army is assessing the needs of disaster survivors in both locations and the Army’s ability to respond to those needs – both immediately and for the longer term.  

In response to the Waldo Canyon Fire, The Salvation Army is running all feeding operations at the YMCA Southeast Family Center Shelter and Cheyenne Mountain High School Shelter. Between June 24-26, The Salvation Army in Colorado Springs served more than 910 meals, 2,900 cold drinks, and 2,200 snacks. The EDS unit at this location will provide for survivors’ immediate needs, such as food, water, comfort, spiritual and emotional support.

“In spite of hot and dry weather, fires burning literally all over the state of Colorado, our Intermountain EDS teams have done remarkable work,” said Captain Grady Brown, Intermountain divisional secretary. “Our corps and service extensions…volunteers and donations have come to our aid.”

In order to better assist those evacuated to local shelter sites, The Salvation Army is bringing additional Emergency Disaster teams from Montana and Wyoming. In addition, a team from Vail will be arriving at the Summit Elementary School shelter in Divide, Co.

The Salvation Army in Fort Collins is providing clothing and food boxes to evacuees from the High Park Fire. The Salvation Army’s team of volunteers at the Disaster Recovery Center providing gift cards to evacuees to enable them to purchase basic essentials such as clothing, shoes, and groceries. In addition, we have our emotional, spiritual care team members on site providing a listening ear to evacuees. A total of 5,961 meals, 13,851 cold drinks, and 10,758 snacks were served.

If members of the community would like to volunteer to help with Waldo Canyon Fire relief efforts, they can register online at tsacs.org/registertoring.

An appeal is being made for financial assistance to fund the local relief work.  Those who wish to support The Salvation Army’s disaster response may do so by sending a check earmarked “Disaster Relief or Wild Fires” to their local Salvation Army office, or by donating online at imsalvationarmy.org, or by making a credit card donation at 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

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