PRESS RELEASE
Salvation Army Serves More Than
100,000 Meals in Baton Rouge
September 9, 2008 - Canteens, mobile kitchens, chase vehicles, and trailers-just some of the many things in Baton Rouge to help Salvation Army serve thousands of meals every day.
The Salvation Army has been meeting the needs in Baton Rouge for more than 103 years. 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, there are successes behind the Red Shield. In times of disaster, these successes come faster than ever.
Today, the successes came in the form of 19,837 meals provided in Greater Baton Rouge. Add to that, the 16,977 drinks served, and 11,025 snacks. These hot and nutritious meals were taken into the communities by 26 Salvation Army canteens.
Part of The Salvation Army's mission is to meet human need whenever and wherever we find it. One of the things that separates how The Salvation Army meets that need is the ever-present component of Emotional & Spiritual Care. Each canteen crew has at least one person prepared to assist affected communities in this very personal way. The Salvation Army looks at the whole person to meet a spectrum of need.
With 108,292 meals served by The Salvation Army throughout Greater Baton Rouge, our work is just getting started. "There's a lot of need out there, and a lot of different needs" - said Hagerstown, Maryland volunteer, Steve Janes when he rolled in with the rest of his canteen crew at 10:25 Monday night. Steve, a young man who volunteers with The Salvation Army in his hometown, saw this as an opportunity to bring his energy and spirit to those in need in Baton Rouge.
Steve Janes is just one of the 95 volunteers who wake up by 6:00 in the morning to get ready for a long day in Baton Rouge communities-totaling 1977 hours today alone. Immediately after the group meeting, things really get moving; the crazed beehive of activity swarming around 25 canteens is amazing to watch. The comparative calm is interrupted as the canteens come back empty after serving a hot lunch to more than 9500 people. The already tiring crew clean-out the canteen, and reload before heading back out to serve dinner-rain or shine.
The Salvation Army repeats that process every day with twenty five canteens, heading to locations in seven Parishes of Greater Baton Rouge.
In addition, Salvation Army canteens will be working with Meals-On-Wheels and Catholic Charities to deliver more than 3900 meals to elderly shut-ins throughout Greater Baton Rouge.
The Salvation Army serves in more than 100 countries and provides both immediate emergency assistance and long-term recovery help in the event of any disaster. Funds for The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services come from corporate and private donations given specifically for disaster relief. To volunteer with The Salvation Army or to make a credit card donation, call 651-746-3400 or 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Checks made out to The Salvation Army may be sent to 2445 Prior Ave., Roseville, MN 55113. Click below to make an online donation.
