April is National Volunteer Month.

This Week, OEM Thanks the Salvation Army of Philadelphia

April 17, 2016

by Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management Public Affairs @PhilaOEM

What comes to mind when you think of the Salvation Army? Sights and sounds of the winter season; red kettles, bell ringing, and festive songs. Outreach to homeless and clothing donations as well. The volunteer organization is all that, and more, especially in the emergency response field in the City of Philadelphia.

Last year, Salvation Army International, which has a footprint in 120 countries, celebrated its 150^th anniversary. Founded in London in 1865, the Salvation Army exists as an all-encompassing charity, and is the second largest charitable organization in the United States, according to Forbes. The services they provide have transcended collecting donations over the years but all are in line with their motto of “Doing the Most Good”.

The Salvation Army started providing emergency assistance after a major hurricane hit Galveston, TX in 1990. Since then, the Salvation Army has become a primary federal response partner with a memorandum of understanding with FEMA and a local partner assisting with numerous disasters big and small.

Volunteerism

Philadelphia, city of innumerable firsts, is the birthplace of the Salvation Army in the United States as the organization was founded here over 135 years ago.

The Salvation Army’s volunteers are not just an important part of emergency and public safety response for events and incidents in the city. They are also planning partners with the Office of Emergency Management’s and are an integral response partner with the City’s emergency response planning.

The Disaster Relief Services arm of the Salvation Army is vital to both the public and public safety before, during, and after emergencies. It volunteers provide an umbrella of services needed by those going through crisis. They offer food service, emotional and spiritual care, disaster social services, disaster services volunteer training, emergency communications, donations management, and recovery. The Salvation Army is the primary agency providing meals at all Philadelphia evacuation shelters and the City’s emergency operations center (EOC).

The red decal, white trucks of the Salvation Army can be seen aligning the streets along with OEM, Philadelphia Police, Philadelphia Fire, Red Paw and the Red Cross at the scene of multi alarm fires and widespread utility outages. They supported family assistance operations for Amtrak 188 and provided meals to on scene responders.

Recently, most notably and most visibly, the Salvation Army was involved in Pope Francis’ historic visit to Philadelphia. They took part in the months of planning for the event with city and federal stakeholders. During the event, over 100 volunteers from Salvation Army worked 24 hours a day to deliver food to emergency personnel at more than 50 sites. Over the course of 3 days, volunteers handed out approximately 70,000 pre-packaged lunches and hot dinners courtesy of Wawa. They staffed Emergency Disaster Services canteen trucks at six locations.

How Can You Help?

An Erma Bombeck quote on the Salvation Army’s website clearly and concisely sums up the ethos of the organization and those who give their time for others.  Bombeck wrote, “Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another.”

The Salvation Army’s impact can be seen, but moreover felt, by those in need in the City of Philadelphia.

In 2015:

• They provided more than 205,000 meals to those facing the threat of hunger, and more than 281,000 collective nights of shelter to those with nowhere else to go.
• Collectively, more than 40,000 senior citizens participated in activities and events to keep them healthy and active, and youth attendance at activities and music programs totaled to more than 250,000.
• Provided assistance to 7,000 individuals at Christmas and provided more than 18,000 toys and gifts so families in need could have the Christmas they deserve.

The organization says this snapshot of assistance is only possible due to “the work of more than 14,000 volunteers who selflessly dedicated over 120,000 hours and countless amounts of energy to the cause of simply Doing the Most Good for those in need.”

The Salvation Army calls its volunteers “the army behind the Army”. They are always in need, to help first-responders and the needy, whether it be through donation of time and money.

“The Salvation Army provides assistance through a broad array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. In Philadelphia, 90 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support these programs and services.” –Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia 

The Salvation Army has a need for a volunteers with a wide array of skills. To donate or see how you can help, visit their site or call 215-825-4601.

Follow them on Twitter , like them on Facebook to see their actions in motion.