Couple Provides Emotional Care in the Red River Valley
Tim and Desta Hunt’s first exposure to The Salvation Army stretches far beyond their local unit in Fergus Falls, MN. In fact, this husband and wife team credits the decision to spend their retirement years volunteering for The Salvation Army to seeing the organization in action throughout the world. Tim’s involvement in the military brought the Hunt family from country to country, and they spent several years in India while Tim was the Defense Attaché at the American Embassy. By living internationally in a variety of settings, the Hunts say that they had the opportunity to witness The Salvation Army changing the world first-hand: “It became very clear that no matter who you are, no matter what you do, if you need help, The Salvation Army is there for you. No exclusions. No discrimination. And the most amazing part? They expect nothing in return.”
When Tim and Desta retired and returned to Minnesota, there was no question that they wanted to devote their time to The Salvation Army, they just weren’t sure how. They called Captain Mike Parker at the Fergus Falls Salvation Army and offered to help in any way needed. When Captain Parker learned about their international experience and Desta’s background in social work, he suggested that they attend certification training to volunteer in times of disaster. “We headed to Chicago to attend training, and since then we have been sent all over to help in different times of need. They tell us to go and we go, and we stay as long as we’re needed.”
Recently, they have spent most of their time in Fargo, Moorhead, and surrounding rural areas to help with flood relief, feeding and hydrating the volunteers and community members and providing emotional and spiritual care where needed. “We’ve seen such a phenomenal outpouring of goodwill in every community we visit. People come to the Salvation Army canteen and are so thankful for the simple white bread sandwiches we give them,” Desta laughs, “Some people just need some good cheer and to know that there’s hope. They need to know that people care. That’s why we’re here.”
Tim and Desta say that as the preparation for the flooding has gone on and on, they’ve realized that this disaster is unlike any they’ve experienced before, “It’s not like Katrina or the flooding in Iowa where it comes and wipes everything out. In this case, it’s ever-imminent. And because of that, people on the outside start to think ‘Oh they’re okay. They don’t need help anymore,’ but that’s not the case. People are still hurting. People are still struggling. There is still damage to deal with.” Emotional and spiritual care is more important now than ever because the initial adrenaline and excitement of fighting the impending floods has faded; those still suffering start to feel forgotten. “Everyone came together at the beginning, but people start to wonder who will stay through to the end?” Desta says.
To combat the quickly-spreading feeling of abandonment in flood-affected communities, Tim and Desta go door to door, looking for people who need help. The response has been overwhelming: “Over and over, people have been so impressed that The Salvation Army didn’t sit and wait for the people to come to them. They look out their windows and see The Salvation Army literally climbing over the sandbags in their yards, wading through mud and muck, and meeting them in their own homes.”
One man they met told them that this isn’t the first time The Salvation Army has helped him out: “The Salvation Army saved my life during the floods of 1997. They fed me for three weeks. If not for them, I’m sure that I would have died. This time, I didn’t think that I would make it, but The Salvation Army came through again.”
Tim and Desta knocked on the door of one woman who broke down crying when she saw The Salvation Army on her doorstep. She said, “I was just standing here in this mess and all I could think was, ‘How will I ever survive?’ And there you were!”
Another woman the Hunts met was struggling to simultaneously care for her husband who is afflicted with Alzheimer’s while also dealing with effects of the floods. “Their water was shut off and they did not have a bathroom to use. Her husband was becoming increasingly disoriented and she just needed some help. We were able to take them to some facilities to use, and she was so grateful for the emotional support we offered. She just needed some hope, and that’s what we give.”
Tim and Desta say that while they’re out volunteering, the one thing they hear over and over is that The Salvation Army is present even after everyone else has left the scene, and this disaster is no different. That’s what drew them to volunteer with The Salvation Army over four years ago, and they have no plans to stop any time soon. “This has completely changed our lives. We’ve grown closer to God and closer to each other. We’ve met the most amazing people. And, honestly, we receive more out of it than we can possibly give.” When asked where she and her husband find the strength to keep up their spirits in the face of so much despair, Desta’s answer is simple: “It does not take a Master’s degree or a PhD to help people. It takes love. That’s what people need, and that is a resource that will never run dry.”
