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Weblog:
News from the Salvation Army Community Centre
Salvation Army Week of Compassion for Haiti
Dear Friends, The Salvation Army is embarking on a special fundraising event to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. From February 1-6, the Salvation Army kettles – normally seen during our annual Christmas campaigns – will be out at shopping malls and stores across Saskatoon. We need volunteers to make this happen. If you have wondered how to directly help the millions of people affected by the earthquake’s destruction, this is your chance. Volunteer for a kettle shift! 100% of donations go to The Salvation Army Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund. The fund provides medicine and medical treatment, food, purified drinking water, shelter, and much, much more. More than 700 Salvation Army personnel are providing relief in Haiti right now, and many more will follow. Please consider playing a role in The Salvation Army’s Haiti Disaster Relief. Call 242-6833, extension 239. A few hours of your time goes a long way towards helping the people of Haiti right now. Labels: Donate, Emergency Disaster Services, Saskatoon
Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army, and St. John Ambulance sign agreement with Saskatchewan government
From the Regina Leader-Post Should an emergency situation arise or natural disaster occur, Saskatchewan has a new streamlined plan in place to handle it. Donna Harpauer, minister of Social Services, announced Monday that the province has entered into formal agreements with the Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army and St. John Ambulance to assist in providing emergency programs. "I think it's very important to have a formal agreement with them to recognize them (and) to show respect for the services they do," said Harpauer. The need to formalize things became apparent after last year's northern forest fires forced the evacuation of northern residents, she explained. "It was the largest evacuation of the north that our province ever had -- and even though it was chaotic -- I toured the evacuation sites where we were housing the evacuees," said Harpauer. "All the organizations were very organized in looking after everything the people needed." Labels: Emergency Disaster Services, Saskatchewan
By the numbers
The numbers below give you an idea of what kind of year the Salvation Army Community Centre had in 2008. Our 2007 stats - 6638 beds used
- 67,417 meals served
- 4,055 breakfasts served to high school students
- 3,533 women and children provided with emergency after hours assistance
- 1141 hotel rooms used to provide emergency shelter for women and children
- 228 emergency infant needs provided for
- 4205 Christmas hampers given out
- 2222 people given free clothing
- 219 emergency food hampers distributed
- 70 inner city kids sent to camp
- 113 Family Tracing cases handled
What we did in 2008 It's been quite a year and we want to thank our the Government of Saskatchewan for continued funding, the support of thousands of people making donations at the Centre, via the Christmas kettles, and the Red Shield appeal, and all of the other NGO's in the city that we work with on a daily basis to make Saskatoon a better place to live for people in need. Labels: Affordable Housing, Beaver Creek Camp, Christmas, Emergency Disaster Services, Family Services, Food Services, Life at the Centre, Residential Services, Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
Evacuating
As CBC reports, around 1100 people from Stony Rapids, Black Lake, Uranium City, Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay are being forced to flee their homes with almost 700 people coming to Saskatoon. The Salvation Army Community Centre is assisting with evacuation efforts by helping house, feed, and offer up assistance in any way the residents need. If you are interested in volunteering with relief efforts, please call the Centre at 242-6833 and talk to Crystal. Labels: Emergency Disaster Services, Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
The Salvation Army in Myanmar (Burma) responds to Cyclone Nargis
The Salvation Army in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is responding to the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis, which is thought to have killed more than 20,000 people. Communications to Myanmar have been severely affected but news has been received that local Salvationists are helping victims in the Yangon area. As is reported on the Salvation Army's international website A Salvation Army assessment team from the region is en route to the affected area and will make plans for the most immediate needs to be met. There is no doubt that this tragedy has caused much suffering and that it will take a long time for Myanmar and the population to recover from the effects of this unexpected devastation. Major Mike Caffull, Field Operations Officer of International Emergency Services, says: 'Early indications suggest that Salvationists in Myanmar are responding magnificently to the disaster that has hit their country, but it is also clear that there is going to be a great need for substantial financial support to enable an appropriate response to the damage and suffering that is already being experienced and which is likely to continue for some time.' Click here to donate to international efforts of the Salvation Army. Labels: Emergency Disaster Services
Mobilize 2008
 Several Centre staff along with Major Henri are in Calgary this week to take in Mobilize 2008, a conference on Emergency and Disaster Relief with the Salvation Army.
Seminars include emergency food handling, international emergency services, handing emergencies locally, and how to operate in the Incident Command System. While we hope we will never be called upon to use what we have learned, if we are called, we will be prepared. An overview of what the Saskatoon Salvation Army Community Centre's Emergency Disaster Services can be found here. If you are interested, we also found some time to tour other Emergency Disaster Vehicles while we were there. They are posted to our photo gallery and can be viewed here. Technorati Tags: Mobilize 2008Labels: Emergency Disaster Services, Prairies District
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