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The Salvation Army

L.J. Hooker to boost Salvation Army’s Hurricane Relief effort

Friday 9 September 2005 – L.J. Hooker is adding weight to The Salvation Army’s hurricane relief effort with its 90+ offices across the country stepping up to act as collection points for public donations.

Donations are still being desperately sought to assist Salvation Army workers in the USA in their efforts to provide logistical support to victims from areas most devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

For L.J. Hooker, the move builds on its previous support of The Salvation Army. Earlier this year, its network of offices initiated a NZ-wide voluntary campaign to collect pre-loved clothing from households for delivery to Salvation Army Family Stores. Supporting the Hurricane Relief Fund, they say, is another way they can offer practical assistance and give something back to the community.

How to donate

With this generous assistance from L.J. Hooker, members of the public now have two options for making cash donations to The Salvation Army Hurricane Relief Fund. Cash donations are accepted and welcomed at any L.J. Hooker office or any branch of Bank of New Zealand.

For non-cash donations, please mail cheques or credit card details to:

The Salvation Army

Hurricane Relief Fund

PO Box 27001

Wellington

Or make a donation via credit card on freephone 0800 53 00 00 (please specify Hurricane Relief Fund when calling) or online at www.salvationarmy.org.nz

ENDS

MEDIA BACKGROUNDER

Sallies Prepared To Meet A Multitude Of Needs

JACKSON, Miss.– With winds of 95 mph hammering his base of operations here, Salvation Army Divisional Commander Major Dalton Cunningham, said that, in his experience, the impact of Hurricane Katrina is unprecedented.

Cunningham, who is responsible for the three states hardest hit by the storm so far – Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama – said, “The size of this is massive. It is covering several states and coming several hundred miles inland. So the needed resources are going to be more widespread.” He added, “This one is hitting multiple cities.” Indeed, Cunningham reported that at least 800,000 people in Louisiana are without power.

He reported also that those sheltered in the Superdome in New Orleans were without air conditioning and possibly electricity. In Jackson, he reported that at least 50,000 where without power at the time of the interview.

He said that approximately 100 Salvation Army workers are presently working either in the field – such as at shelters in New Orleans – or at national and regional headquarters to coordinate activities. Another 200 are standing by at the perimeter of the storm, waiting on the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assess where best to direct resources.

Once activated, the 200 workers of the Salvation Army’s Incident Management Teams will be moving in 72 canteens that can feed 400,000 people a day and two 54-foot mobile kitchens that can feed an additional 20,000 people a day.

Cunningham explained, “The first priority is to feed those that are hungry, that have no food, and that have no place to cook.” He said those wanting to help the needy by assisting the Salvation Army could best do so by making cash donations. “Financial contributions are greatly needed, and provide The Salvation Army with the funds to purchase what storm victims need. They also allow The Salvation Army to assess the unique needs of individuals and families, as well as put money back into the economy of those communities affected by the disaster.”

As well as mass feeding, The Salvation Army is also prepared to offer emotional and pastoral support to storm weary victims of Hurricane Katrina’s wrath. Salvation Army officers (ministers) are prepared to provide encouragement and a compassionate listening ear to residents of areas left to recover from Katrina’s wrath.

As temperatures rise and patience wanes “The Salvation Army desires to be a calming presence in the minds and hearts of lives stressed by natures fury,” said Bill Feist, Emergency Services Disaster Director for The Salvation Army. “Through our fleet of mobile feeding units, ministers, and health/welfare inquiries we feel we help meet the physical needs of individuals as well as the emotional needs of individuals,” he said.

The Salvation Army is currently using its Emergency Radio Network (The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network: SATERN ) to answer inquiries on the whereabouts of Hurricane Katrina victims; it is now prepared to accept inquiries concerning the health and welfare of loved ones affected by Hurricane Katrina.

SATERN, which works closely with the Hurricane Watch Net and the Maritime Mobile Net, garners reports from their net frequencies and stands ready to handle emergency communications from the affected areas as the hurricane prepares to make landfall. The SATERN organization values the input and help of these traditional emergency organizations, along with the help of countless individual operators, who provide inestimable expertise and logistical, strategic intelligence to the overall operation. SATERN is also responsible for health and welfare information inquiries during a disaster event.

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