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Central Oklahoma Salvation Army to Serve on the Front Lines

By sa-admin · Monday, August 28th, 2017

The Central Oklahoma Area Command of The Salvation Army will be busy serving those affected by the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Kenny Kelly, Emergency Disasters Services Coordinator for the Central Oklahoma Area Command, will deploy to the Incident Command Center in Corpus Christi, Texas to serve as the Canteen Coordinator for The Salvation Army’s ongoing disaster response operations in Corpus Christi, TX and immediately surrounding areas. The Salvation Army canteen is a mobile feeding unit, and as Canteen Coordinator, Mr. Kelly will be managing the overall operation and services provided by The Salvation Army’s Canteen fleet meeting the needs of victims and first responders in the Corpus Christi area.

From the Salvation Army Arkansas-Oklahoma Divisional headquarters in Oklahoma City, Cindy Fuller, Divisional Communications Director and Laurie Fried, Divisional Disaster and Recovery Coordinator, will also be deployed to the Incident Command Center in Corpus Christi. Cindy Fuller will serve as the Public Information Officer and Laurie Fried as the Liaison Officer, responsible for representing The Salvation Army’s Incident Command with other disaster relief organizations and government agencies.

The Arkansas-Oklahoma Division is also deploying Officers from Conway, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff and Springdale, Arkansas as well as Ardmore, Oklahoma City and Shawnee, Oklahoma as part of the Incident Command Center to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Resources are staged and ready to serve.

A total of 42 mobile kitchens – each with the capacity to serve am average pf 1.500 meals per day – are headed to forward staging areas in Dallas and San Antonio in preparation for deployment. Eight of those units are from The Salvation Army in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Disaster response leadership teams will be positioned in San Antonio, Galveston/Texas City, Houston and Corpus Christi to coordinate the ongoing disaster response.

The Salvation Army is already at work in many communities that have found themselves in the path of the storm. Water, cleanup kits, food and shelter supplies have been staged and are ready to be sent to the affected areas. Mobile feeding units and crews have been deployed from the following Arkansas and Oklahoma locations:

Central Oklahoma Area Command, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is deploying a crew and two feeding units.
Muskogee, Oklahoma is deploying a crew and feeding unit.
Fort Smith, Arkansas is deploying a crew and feeding unit.
Ardmore, Oklahoma is deploying a crew and feeding unit.
Tulsa, Oklahoma is deploying a crew and feeding unit.
Jonesboro, Arkansas is deploying a crew and feeding unit.
Stillwater, Oklahoma is deploying a crew and feeding unit.
Enid, Oklahoma is deploying a crew to serve.
Rogers, Arkansas is deploying crew members to serve.

How People Can Help

The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation to the charity of your choice. Cash is flexible, can be used immediately in response to a crisis, and allows disaster relief organizations to purchase exactly what is needed, when it’s needed. Cash gives relief organizations the means to procure supplies near the affected area, which cuts down on transportation time and cost. Monetary contributions also support local economies and ensure that businesses can operate when relief supplies diminish.

It’s easy to support The Salvation Army’s disaster relief program:

Donate Online: www.helpsalvationarmy.org
Donate by Mail: The Salvation Army PO BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301
Please designate ‘Hurricane Harvey’ on all checks.
Donate by Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
Donate by Text: Text STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for easy mobile giving

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Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : army, assistance, disaster, harvey, help, houston, hurricane, Oklahoma, recovery, salvation, texas

Salvation Army Extends Deadline for Final Angel Tree Push

By sa-admin · Friday, December 9th, 2016

The Salvation Army is extending the deadline to return Angels to the Angel Trees at Penn Square and Quail Springs Malls until Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 7 p.m. As of today, almost 300 Angels have not been adopted off of the mall Angel Trees and more than 2,700 have not been returned with their gifts.

The Salvation Army needs your help to ensure no child is forgotten this Christmas. Stop by the Angel Tree at Penn Square or Quail Springs Mall before Dec. 15 and adopt an Angel from the tree. The gifts purchased for the children and seniors on the Angel Tree are often the only Christmas gifts they receive.

“Even though our Angels may never know where these gifts come from, the feeling they get on Christmas morning when they open their gifts will stay with them forever,” said Major Charlotte Gargis, associate area commander of The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma. “Once again we ask for the community’s help to make Christmas bright for families in need so no child or senior is forgotten.”

On average, 15 to 20 percent of Angels are not returned because they are lost or forgotten. The Salvation Army is in need of new clothing items and new, unwrapped toys to fill forgotten Angels, ages 6-14, this Christmas.

Toy and clothing donations may be brought to the mall Angel Trees or Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads, 7000 Crossroads Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK 73149, until December 17 at 4 p.m. The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Workshop is located on the east side of the mall, in the space formerly occupied by Montgomery Wards.

The Angel Tree families will begin receiving their gifts on December 19 through December 22. Each family will collect their gifts as well as receive a box of food to prepare a Christmas meal.

For questions on how you can help ensure no child is forgotten this Christmas, please contact Major Gargis at 405-246-1113 or charlotte.gargis@uss.salvationarmy.org. Your donation will bring hope to a family this Christmas.

Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : Angel Tree, Central Oklahoma, children, Christmas, donate, give, help, kids, OKC, Salvation Army, seniors

10 Reasons You Should Volunteer To Be A Bell Ringer This Christmas

By sa-admin · Friday, October 21st, 2016

The holidays are a fun time of the year with festivities constantly planned with family, friends and coworkers! The celebrations are a great reminder of what’s really important in life. Looking for a new way to give back with your family, friends or coworkers? Bell ringing is a great opportunity to bring everyone together and impact your community. Need more convincing? Read through the ten reasons below why you should sign up to bell ring!
1. Start a Family Tradition

So many families try to volunteer during the holidays to instill the value of giving back to the community in their children. Ringing a bell is a great way to introduce them to volunteer work. It is simple enough that even the youngest child can help, but the impact is huge.

2. Be the Sounds of the Season

It really doesn’t feel like Christmas until you hear the first bell ringing. You can be a part of sharing holiday joy by providing the sounds of the season.

3. Hear Uplifting Stories from People Impacted by The Salvation Army

When people walk by the kettles, more often than not, they stop by with a story to tell. Whether they were once helped by The Salvation Army, used to volunteer or know someone who was a recipient of some sort of service, the stories they share are enlightening and uplifting.

4. It Becomes a Game

I personally started a competition with myself: how many people can I get to donate that walk through the doors? I wanted to greet everyone and share the message of The Salvation Army, which is to do the most good. I began to count how many people in a row I could get to donate, and then when someone didn’t donate, I started over. It was actually really entertaining!

5. The Money You Raise Directly Impacts Your Community

The Red Kettle Campaign is The Salvation Army’s largest fundraiser. 85% of everything raised by the Red Kettle Campaign goes directly back into the community, meaning it helps feed the hungry, keep people warm through the cold winter months, help at risk youth and many other programs that The Salvation Army offer.

6. You Can Learn How Much You Raised

After you ring the kettle, the kettle coordinator will collect your kettle and put a tag in the kettle, indicating that you were the person who rang. The next day, if you call the Corps, they will tell you how much you raised in the time you volunteered. It is incredibly rewarding to know that you donated four hours of your time and raised money that is going to a really good cause – at virtually no cost to you.

7. Christmas Caroling

Christmas Caroling is one of the best parts of the holiday season. Nothing says, “It’s Christmastime” like hearing people singing their favorite holiday tunes. It is a great excuse to sing your favorite carols without having the potential awkwardness of singing directly to someone by knocking on their door or visiting their home.

8. A Reason to Wear Tacky Christmas Sweaters

Dressing up to ring bells makes it even more fun! The Salvation Army thrift store has a wide array of Christmas sweaters throughout the year that make great holiday attire. You can wear your favorite tacky Christmas sweater, dress like Santa or Mrs. Clause, an elf, a reindeer or you can get creative!

9. It’s Fun

It is actually a lot of fun! Grab your family or a group of friends and make a day out of it. Pack your hot chocolate, some cookies and your camera and you have a fun holiday spirited outing! You can dance around, sing carols and really make it a fun event! The more joy the merrier the kettle!

10. Be a Part of the Legacy

The Red Kettle Campaign has a deep history in America. It began in 1891 in San Francisco when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee wanted to provide a free Christmas dinner to families who needed it. He decided to adapt an idea that was originally developed in Liverpool, England where people could throw some change into a pot to help the poor. Six years later, it spread to the East Coast and continued to grow into the tradition it is today, spreading throughout the entire United States and across the world. That’s a pretty exciting thing to be a part of!

Did we convince you?

To ring in Oklahoma County, contact Liz Banks at 405-246-1107 or redkettlevolunteer.org to sign up.

To ring in Cleveland County, email NormanKettles@uss.salvationarmy.org. Please provide your name, address, phone number and email when reaching out.

To ring in Canadian County, contact Lois DeBerry at 405-323-8846 or lois.deberry@uss.salvationarmy.org to sign up.

Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : bell ring, change lives, Christmas caroling, Christmas family tradition, community impact, donate, give back, help, holidays, tacky christmas sweater, volunteer

Salvation Army in Central Oklahoma to Serve on Front Lines of Hurricane Matthew

By sa-admin · Friday, October 7th, 2016

Oklahoma City, OK (October 6, 2016) – The Salvation Army offices in Central Oklahoma will be busy serving those affected by the effects of Hurricane Matthew. Kenny Kelly, Emergency Disaster Services Coordinator for the Central Oklahoma Area Command, will deploy to the Incident Command Center in Brunswick, Georgia to serve as the Operations Chief for The Salvation Army operations in St. Mary’s. As the Operations Chief, Kelly will have the overall responsibility for managing all direct service activities such as mass feeding and case management for the disaster relief operation.

Cindy Fuller, Divisional Communications Director, is being deployed to the Incident Command Center in Brunswick as well as the Public Information Officer (PIO). As the PIO, Fuller will be responsible for communicating critical information about The Salvation Army’s disaster relief activities to internal and external audiences, including the media, the general public and other Salvation Army units.

The Arkansas-Oklahoma Division is also deploying Officers from Conway, Mountain Home and Springdale, Arkansas as well as Enid, Lawton, Muskogee and Stillwater, Oklahoma to help those impacted by the Hurricane.

Resources from 13 states already mobilized for storm response.

Salvation Army disaster units from Florida to North Carolina are mobilizing to respond to Hurricane Matthew, a powerful tropical cyclone which is poised to cause extensive damage in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The Salvation Army is also activating resources from across the country to support the recovery effort; this includes personnel and equipment from the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. Additional resources from across the United States are on stand-by.

The Salvation Army has 75 mobile feeding units, capable of producing 1,500 meals per day, are stationed in states threatened by Hurricane Matthew. These include 32 units in Florida, 22 units in Georgia, and 20 canteens in the North & South Carolina Division. In addition, The Salvation Army has already activated the following additional units from other divisions:

· Three Kentucky & Tennessee divisional canteens have been deployed to Greenville, SC
· Three Maryland & West Virginia divisional canteens have been deployed to Raleigh, NC
· Six Alabama, Louisiana & Mississippi divisional canteens have been deployed to Florida
· Ten Texas divisional canteens have been requested to deploy to a temporary staging area in Tallahassee
· Seven National Capital & Virginia divisional canteens are on standby.

Two field kitchens, capable of producing 15,000 per day are stationed in Florida. A third field kitchen from Texas is being deployed to the temporary staging area in Tallahassee. Two additional field kitchens, located in Texas and Mississippi, are on-stand-by.

The Salvation Army has deployed two satellite communications units in support of disaster operations; one unit is deploying to Florida and the second is stationed in North Carolina.

Salvation Army liaisons are being dispatched to state emergency operations centers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta. The Salvation Army is also staffing numerous county emergency operations centers in impacted states.

How People Can Help
The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation to the charity of your choice. Cash is flexible, can be used immediately in response to a crisis, and allows disaster relief organizations to purchase exactly what is needed, when it’s needed. Cash gives relief organizations the means to procure supplies near the affected area, which cuts down on transportation time and cost. Monetary contributions also support local economies and ensure that businesses can operate when relief supplies diminish.

It’s easy to support The Salvation Army’s disaster relief program:

Donate Online: http://give.salvationarmyusa.org/hurricane_matthew
Donate By Mail: The Salvation Army PO BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301
Please designate ‘Hurricane Matthew’ on all checks.
Donate By Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
Donate By Text: Text STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for easy mobile giving

About The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest 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. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : disaster response, donate, emergency disaster, give, help, hurricane matthew, Salvation Army, volunteer

Just Have Faith & Determination – Marlon’s Story of Hope

By sa-admin · Wednesday, October 14th, 2015

Marlon 2 Marlon is no stranger to starting over in a new place. Originally from Louisiana, Marlon left for Las Vegas after Hurricane Katrina and eventually settled in Salina, KS. After a relationship turned into a bad situation, he decided it was time to move on – leaving his job, friends and coworkers to start again.

He first went to Wichita, KS but after struggling to find a job, Marlon headed for Oklahoma City after learning that it was in the top five for cities with the lowest unemployment rate.

With his savings quickly depleting, Marlon stay on the floor at an Oklahoma City shelter but he knew he needed a more stable environment in order to get back on his feet. That is when he learned of The Salvation Army.

Just five days after arriving in Oklahoma, Marlon had a bed to call his own and an army of people rooting for him. Within two weeks he had a job. Now Marlon has two jobs and feels blessed that both are such great working environments.

“None of this would have been possible without God – God first,” Marlon proudly expresses. “I have a strong belief in Him and my faith in God has gotten even stronger since I’ve been here at The Salvation Army.”

Marlon’s faith in God and his hard work have him on the fast track to be back on his feet. Working over 60 hours a week, he is already making weekly payments on new bedroom and living room furniture. He has already picked out an apartment but is waiting to save more money before signing a lease.

“I’ve got so many plans. I’ve got goals that are reachable – long-term goals that are far off but they’re also doable,” Marlon explains. “But one step at a time, slow and easy.”

In our shelter, Marlon has become a role model for others wanting to change their life. He was awarded the Shining Star award which recognizes individuals who have made great strides to improve their lives.

Marlon mentors the other residents realistically telling them that change has to happen.

“I’m no saint or nothing like that but when I do point them in the right direction, it’s up to them to do these things. I try to tell them how to present themselves. Humble yourself, you know. Those old street ways, those old attitudes you’ve got to lose that now.”

It is clear that Marlon is not going to let a bad situation that was forced on him keep him down. His constant positivity, faith and determination are an inspiration to everyone. And he knows that he is not the only one who is capable of changing his circumstances.

“I’m not the only one who can do this. Everyone else can do it too but they have to want it.”

Because of your support of The Salvation Army, Marlon’s story was made possible. If you would like to continue making a difference in the life of someone just like Marlon, click the Donate Now button above and financially support our shelter programs.

Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : faith, help, homeless, hope, OKC, Oklahoma City, shelter, starting over, volunteer

Angel Tree Program for Oklahoma County Begins

By sa-admin · Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015

UPDATE 9/22/15: All Angel Tree Appointment letters have been distributed and all appointment times field. The Angel Tree applications are now closed to those who did not receive an appointment letter.

___________________________

The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma will begin handing out appointment letters for the 2015 Angel Tree Program for residents in Oklahoma County on Tuesday, September 8 at 9 a.m. at their Social Services office located at 1001 N. Pennsylvania in Oklahoma City.

The appointment letter includes a date, time and instructions on eligibility for The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Once the letter is collected, individuals will need to follow all of the instructions and bring the necessary documentation to their appointment assigned in their letter.

Beginning September 8, appointment letters will be available Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. In order to receive Christmas assistance from The Salvation Army, individuals must come and collect an appointment letter.

Residents of Oklahoma County and residents of ZIP codes 73159, 73165 and 73170 of Cleveland County may come during the stated hours to receive an appointment letter. (Residents of ZIP code 73160 should contact The Salvation Army in Norman at 405-364-9910.)

The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program helps families with children, ages 0 to 14, and senior citizens, ages 62 and greater, by providing Christmas presents, a food box and a Bible. Last year, over 2,000 families received Christmas assistance through The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma’s Angel Tree program.

For more information and the latest updates, please visit our website at www.salvationarmyokcac.org/christmas.

Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : aid, Angel Tree, assistance, Christmas, help, holiday, program, Salvation Army

Archive for help

Central Oklahoma Salvation Army to Serve on the Front Lines

Salvation Army Extends Deadline for Final Angel Tree Push

10 Reasons You Should Volunteer To Be A Bell Ringer This Christmas

Salvation Army in Central Oklahoma to Serve on Front Lines of Hurricane Matthew

Just Have Faith & Determination – Marlon’s Story of Hope

Angel Tree Program for Oklahoma County Begins

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