LOCAL DISASTERS

The Salvation Army is collecting the following NEW items for flood relief:

-garden and lawn rakes
-mops
-heavy duty gloves
-food serving gloves
-buckets
-shop vacs
-power washers
-shovels
-generators
-rubber boots
-squeegees
-heavy duty garbage bags

-disposable plates and bowls
-plastic tableware
-napkins
-cups 6oz and 8oz - hot and cold
-stir sticks
-individual packets of sugar and cream
-bottled water
-Gatorade and juice
-individual snacks (nuts, granola bars, cookies, cereal bars, dried fruit, slim jims, etc.)

Please note, only the items listed above are being collected at this time (no clothing). Drop off the items at The Salvation Army and they'll be delivered to the Red River Valley.

Salvation Army DHQ (map)
2445 Prior Avenue North
Roseville, MN 55113

-WCCO Radio collecting goods at Ace Hardware

The Salvation Army thanks the following organizations for their flood relief donations:

-If you represent a company wishing to offer supplies in bulk, please contact Denise Overstake at (612) 209-5266.

A note to The Salvation Army from the mom of a sand bagging volunteer:
You are so tieing the word "giving" together for the youth. My kids ring the kettle bell each year. Yesterday, while they were out sand bagging, you guys showed up. The gal at the trailer told them, "this is brought to you, by all the money collected in those big red kettles". They saw the importance of what they did last December....making a difference. My daughter came home from sand bagging, covered in mud from head to toe and she had just one thing to say. "Mom, the Salvation Army ROCKS'. I wanted to send an encouraging word to you, as you contiue such dedicated, phenomenal work for the people in all the Fargo area. Thank you.

Fargo, N.D. - Today I was driving home from work listening to the mighty KFGO 790 and Steve Carbno was speaking about the Salvation Army and where they will setting up in areas where there will be some more dike work. He is a great speaker on the radio and did a fantastic job explaining his next mission around town. The part that hit me right smack in the heart was when he was asked by the DJ how people could volunteer or contribute to the SA, his reply was that #1 the SA is a faith based organization and prayers are most certainly welcome and are encouraged and secondly, they could make a financial contribution if they wished or help in some other manner. That, quite frankly, was the best thing I heard all day.

Grand Forks, N.D. - The Salvation Army of Grand Forks is running regular routes with our canteens to our friends in the community to meet any needs they may have during this period of waiting for the water to recede. This week we have also been sending clean up kits with the canteens to place on door steps in the event they are not home. One of our friends contacted us this morning to express his appreciation for the kit and was very emotional as he expressed his appreciation for the presence of the Salvation Army and our continued presence. “I really needed this kit and I appreciate everything you guys have done for us. This means a lot to me”.

Bismarck, N.D. - Major Chuck Hendrickson, an officer serving in Bismarck, recalled a conversation with someone The Salvation Army helped. "The man said, 'Now I understand the value of bell ringing. There I was standing knee deep in the muck and mire surrounding my home, and up pulls the Salvation Army canteen. The volunteer stepped out with fishing waders on trudging through the mud with hot meals for me and everyone in my house working to clean up the mess,'" explained Hendrickson. "We told them we were happy to help. As he turned to leave he said, 'And I'll never forget you guys.'"