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This includes 44,000 pounds of emergency rations, packaged and ready
to move from the Midwest.
The Salvation Army is working with other agencies to identify
appropriate air transportation to move the already-packaged food as
quickly as possible. The first Salvation Army assessment team is
awaiting passage in the Turks and Caicos Islands, as air space into
Haiti is currently limited to military transport.
This team will support personnel already on the ground in Haiti,
where The Salvation Army has had a presence since the 1950s.
As with all such relief efforts, The Salvation Army's initial focus,
in addition to the safety and security of officers, staff and
volunteers in Haiti, will be to assess the immediate needs of the
people affected by the earthquake, then use its resources to
mobilize and ship food, water and other critical necessities to
where they are most needed.
On a more personal note, Salvation Army Maj. Tom Louden passed on an
encouraging account of how he and his team were able to support
troubled Haitians even though their flight was delayed from getting
into Haiti.
When their plane landed in the Turks and Caicos Islands Wednesday to
refuel, the party was told they could not fly to Haiti due to the
block on planes. They instead would have to spend the night in a
hotel on the islands.
While they were waiting overnight, disappointed about the delay,
they decided to go eat at a local restaurant. They sat down and made
small talk with the waitress, telling her their situation and that
they would be continuing on to Haiti in the morning.
The waitress then told Louden and the group that the cooks in the
restaurant were all from Haiti, and they were deeply worried about
their family members. They had not heard from them at all and had no
idea if they were dead or alive. Some of the cooks were so
overwhelmed with worry for their loved ones that they had not been
to sleep since the earthquake happened.
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 When the waitress went to the kitchen and told the cooks about her
dinner patrons, the chefs came out and surrounded the table, talking
with The Salvation Army team about their families and crying. The
team embraced the workers as they wept and ministered and prayed
with them there in the restaurant. The cooks gave The Salvation Army team a list of names of their
family members to look for while they are in Haiti and a phone
number to call if they find any of them alive. Encouraged by the
fortuitous meeting, Louden described the encounter as very emotional
and moving.
The Salvation Army team was in this way able to serve Haitians even
before landing in the country. Here is some more background on the
organization's presence in Haiti:
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The Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950. Its
personnel were affected by the earthquake and are now working to
assist people in need
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The Salvation Army operates schools, clinics, hospital, feeding
programs, children's homes and church-related activities through
some 60 community centers it has across the country.
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One Salvation Army compound near Port-Au-Prince had severe damage,
including collapsed buildings; No one was injured in the collapse.
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The Salvation Army in Haiti is currently assessing damage and need
throughout the country.
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Once damage and needs are assessed -- and supplies arrive -- The
Salvation Army hopes to begin distribution on a small scale of items
including food, water and tents.
[Text from file received]
More stories of Haiti disaster in today's News section
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