Salvation Army public information officer David Costellow is spreading the word that donations and volunteers are still needed to continue serving numerous tornado victims in what Hamilton County EMS Director Don Allan has deemed the worst disaster he has seen in his 35 years of emergency management.
Burning Bush Baptist Church student ministry assists the Salvation Army in collecting donations for tornado victims at the Chick-fil-A in Fort Oglethorpe. Front from left are Lauren Peters, Pam Bonnell, Daniel Franklin, Chipper Gocke, Megan Kibble, Grant Hacherl, Reed Bonnell, Ryan Hacherl and Jamie Sorrells. Back from left are Salvation Army public information officer David Costellow, Austin Kibble, Jada Tipton, Ryan Gebelein, Kassidie Armour, Salvation Army ladies auxiliary volunteer Sabrina Wikle, Nick Franklin and Adam Gebelein."The Salvation Army needs personal hygiene items like toothbrushes, toothpastes, deodorant, shaving cream, hand sanitizers, work gloves, manual can openers, canned meat, canned vegetables and monetary donations," said Costellow. "People can text the word 'give' to 80888 to donate. Folks can also give by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or donate at www.csarmy.org."
The demand for hot meals continues to remain high as well, and monetary donations are always a necessity.
Salvation Army workers have parked a donation truck at the Chick-fil-A in Fort Oglethorpe to collect donations such as school supplies and hygiene items to distribute to those affected in northwest Georgia and Chattanooga. Donations will be accepted every weekday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the truck at 4104 Ringgold Road in front of the SA store.
Costellow said the Salvation Army needs volunteers particularly in the SA downtown warehouse at 5001 Covington St. in south Chattanooga. He said volunteers in the warehouse sort donation items, putting things in boxes to prepare it for distribution.
"We've got mobile kitchens going into communities that are all volunteer-ran," said Costellow.
Members and volunteers continue to serve in the five surrounding counties - Catoosa, Walker, Dade, Hamilton, and Bradley - by providing hot meals, water and emotional and spiritual care. Costellow said the Salvation Army anticipates continuing to serve three meals per day in Ringgold this week at Ringgold City Hall, on the campus of Ringgold's Ingles and along Cherokee Valley Road, as well as in Apison.
"We are serving a lot of meals, snacks and water," said Costellow. "The Salvation Army was here before, during and after the storm. As people get things back in order, the Salvation Army is still here to serve the community long after the debris is gone."