Army provides help during pandemic across Americas and Caribbean

IHQ

WITH a rapid acceleration of the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in North America, the World Health Organisation has warned that the USA could become the epicentre of the pandemic. The Salvation Army is maintaining services to vulnerable people across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, as well as ramping up provision to meet the needs of those affected by the pandemic.

ARGENTINA

The Army has been continuing its social distancing assistance throughout the pandemic, taking all necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of staff and service users. Young people in the Rosario neighbourhood of Santa Fe have been collecting non-perishable food. This has been distributed to families in need known to corps officers Captain David and Lieutenant Alicia Acosta. Sunday worship and women’s meetings, which would normally be held in corps halls, have temporarily moved to Facebook Live, to enable connectedness during the national quarantine period.

Health education is proving important at the Army’s El Amparo and Betania Women’s Homes. Residents are being taught how to take care of themselves by using sanitiser gel and washing their hands as frequently as possible.

BELIZE

The Salvation Army is part of the National Emergency Management Organisation and is on standby to operate in a countrywide capacity as required by the authorities. To counter a shortage of hand sanitiser, the Army has installed temporary handwashing stations so that students in its schools have access to clean running water. Gloves, liquid soap, bleach and hygienic wipes have been stocked. The Movement’s food parcel distribution to elderly and vulnerable citizens continues, along with the twice-weekly distribution of bread to street dwellers.

Brazil

BRAZIL

One officer in Joinville has been ‘clowning around’ to lift people’s spirits. LieutenantPaula Mendes says: ‘I can’t do much, but today I’ve decided to stand outside our Army building in my best clown costume, playing some music and displaying a sign saying: “Take care – we’re going to get through this.” I waved to people in cars and received some smiles. People need hope!’

CANADA

Territorial Commander Commissioner Floyd Tidd thanked frontline workers at the Army’s Meighen Health Centre in Toronto, which has been closed to visitors in order to safeguard the centre’s 200 senior citizen residents from the spread of the pandemic.

In Williams Lake, British Columbia, teams are serving meals and delivering food hampers from an emergency response unit. Service users who rely on the Army’s daily soup van and food bank in Thunder Bay, Ontario, are still being served, with social distancing guidelines and screening procedures in place. On Prince Edward Island, takeaway meals are being provided for vulnerable people in Summerside.

USA

MEXICO

At Benito Juárez in Mexico City, the country’s busiest airport, Army emergency response teams are distributing food and water to stranded passengers after airlines grounded flights home. The particular needs of refugees and other migrants are also being addressed, with a public appeal helping to ensure that this vulnerable group is not negatively impacted by food shortages.

PERU

An emergency mobile canteen has been mobilised to distribute essential supplies. The Army assures the communities it serves that it continues to provide help in these difficult times, with the confidence that God will supply each of our needs.

URUGUAY

Burger King has supported the Army and continues to provide much-needed food parcels to vulnerable families and individuals in the Patule area. In Salto, food distributions are augmented by other essentials such as nappies, bleach and cleaning materials.

Uruguay

USA

The Army is responding to emerging needs across the country. All states have significant and increasing numbers of confirmed cases of coronavirus infections.

In Greater New York, one of the worstaffected areas, Salvation Army teams are distributing emergency supplies from a shipment of Midwest Food boxes and co-ordinating with partners and supply chain personnel regarding scalable resource options.

Multiple corps in Massachusetts are preparing for food box distribution. They are also responding to an official request to provide meals to overflow shelters for quarantined individuals. Similar efforts are under way across the eastern states to provide hot meals, food parcels and hygiene supplies, and support government agencies.

In the Midwest, the city of Chicago has designated the Army as the lead agency for mass care in its response to the virus. With 4,000 frozen meals ready to be distributed, the Army continues to build its resources for an immediate and long-term response. Meals will be dropped off at city-designated sites for distribution, and food and bottled water are also being given to first responders across the city.

‘The health and safety of the people we serve is our top priority,’ said Divisional Commander Commissioner Barry Swanson (Metropolitan Division). ‘We are here to provide hope and help to our neighbours in Chicagoland during this uncertain time. With 29 sites in our division, we are uniquely positioned to meet the needs in each community. We are prepared to serve for as long as it takes.’

USA

In southern states, where a number of ‘shelter in place’ orders have been given, distribution of food to vulnerable people largely follows a ‘to go’ model. The USA Southern Territory has established an emotional and spiritual care hotline for prayer requests and to provide comfort to individuals coping with the effects of the pandemic.

Following new emergency orders from the State of California and Los Angeles County, USA Western Territorial Commander Commissioner Kenneth Hodder released a video message saying: ‘If the Army was not providing shelter, there would be more people on the street; if the Army was not able to feed people, there would be more people going hungry.’ The commissioner assured viewers that the Army continues to do its work because it is essential to the lives of people. – AR

The latest video message from General Brian Peddle can be viewed at vimeo.com/ salvationarmyihq or facebook.com/ GeneralBPeddle