Salvationists in the Caribbean put others first

Despite sustaining significant damage to their own homes and facilities, Salvationists across the Caribbean are working selflessly to ease the suffering of others in the wake of Hurricane Ivan. Salvation Army buildings within the affected area are serving as makeshift shelters and feeding centres for families who have lost everything they own. Many count themselves lucky to be alive.

With local Salvation Army personnel working around the clock, International Field Operations Officer Captain Mike McKee has been sent to the region from International Headquarters to assist with the assessment and relief efforts.

Major Cedric Hills (International Emergency Services Coordinator) notes that, while many communities in other parts of the world are heavily insured against hurricane damage and other natural disasters, 'Our friends in the Caribbean, who have lost so much, have very little hope of having most of their things replaced.'

Major Richard Gulley, from The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters in Jamaica, says the immediate need is for funding rather than donated goods. Major Gulley explains: 'Donations of material take time to gather, time and money to ship and then a lot of manpower to receive, sort and organise before they can be distributed. This takes time that, quite frankly, we don’t have at the moment.' Monetary donations will allow Salvation Army emergency teams to obtain the supplies and equipment they require from nearby islands and provide immediate appropriate assistance to the people who need it most.