Salvation Army comes to aid in wake of Haiti earthquake

Sacramento, CA - The Salvation Army's National Headquarters located in Alexandria, VA, is mobilizing resources and personnel to assist with the international relief efforts in Haiti, following yesterday's devastating earthquake.

The Salvation Army's World Services office has committed $50,000 to the relief effort and the organization is prepared to commit more financial resources, as well as food, water and other emergency supplies, to assist in the recovery.

The organization is preparing to send more than 44,000 pounds of pre-packaged emergency rations to the country, along with emergency disaster teams. The Salvation Army is working with other agencies to identify appropriate transportation for the food. As with all such relief efforts, The Salvation Army will be a part of the initial emergency response while assessing longer term needs of the residents.

The Salvation Army is accepting monetary donations to assist in the effort at www.gosalarmy.org, or 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by postal mail at: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728. Designate donations "Haiti Earthquake."

The Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950 and currently operates schools, clinics, a hospital, feeding programs, children's homes and church-related activities spread across two major facilities in Port au Prince, close to the epicenter of the earthquake and at other locations in the country.

One of the facilities includes a home for more than 50 children; a school with a daily attendance of 1,500 children; a medical clinic caring for 150-200 people daily; and a church that on any typical Sunday welcomes nearly 1,000 people.

According to reports from Salvation Army staff in Port au Prince, no one in the compound was injured during the earthquake, but the children's home, the clinic and church suffered major damage.

The second compound that houses Salvation Army administrative offices is being used as an emergency operations center; damage was slight to this compound.

The Salvation Army hospital in Fond-des-Negres (75 miles west of Port-au-Prince) reports some minor damage, but no injuries.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti at this time and especially our Salvation Army officers and employees throughout the country," said Lt. Col. Dan Starrett, who directs the Salvation Army World Services Office.