Salvation Army Responds to Puna Lava Flow
Volunteers from the Salvation Army and Emergency Disaster Services [EDS] personnel are supporting those affected by the Puna lava flow with meal coordination, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care at the three emergency shelters in Pāhoa and Kea‘au including Kea‘au Armory, Pāhoa Regional Recreation Facility–Gym and Pāhoa Senior Center.
Hawai‘i Community College Culinary Arts Instructor Shawn Sumiki and instructional and student support specialist Tori Hiro prepare meals for residents displaced by the Kīlauea eruption. Courtesy photo.
Since May 9, The Salvation Army has been coordinating the food service with three meals per day to the emergency shelters in the Puna District. As of July 8, a total of 41,938 meals have been served including 7,792 vegetarian meals. The Salvation Army is regularly purchasing meals to support vendors in Pāhoa, Kea‘au and Volcano Village. In addition, meals are being purchased several days a week from Hawai‘i Community College’s Culinary Arts program, with support from Hawai‘i Community College’s Agriculture program.
Since May 13, The Salvation Army has been operating a distribution center at the Pāhoa Community Center in the Puna District. As of July 8, there have been 1,678 visits from 940 households who have received donations from the distribution center including 1,427 mosquito repellant cans, 1,328 food boxes, 1,129 cases of water, and 859 hygiene kits. Beginning July 10, the distribution center will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Since May 9, The Salvation Army has been supporting affected households with financial assistance to The Salvation Army’s three thrift stores on the Island of Hawai‘i. As of July 8, a total of 118 households have received financial assistance with a total of $12,875 in vouchers that can be redeemed at The Salvation Army’s thrift stores in Hilo, Honoka‘a, and Kailua-Kona.
During emergencies, the best way the public can help is to provide monetary donations which allows the delivery of the exact relief supplies a community needs including the ability to purchase meals and key distribution center items to support the local economy. Plus, The Salvation Army uses 100% of all donations designated ‘disaster relief’ in support of disaster operations. To donate, visit online.
The public also may support The Salvation Army’s EDS efforts with monetary donations via the following corporate partnerships:
- Bank of Hawai‘i – Bank of Hawai‘i announced that donations to The Salvation Army’s EDS efforts can now be made at any of Bank of Hawai‘i’s 69 branches across Hawai‘i, the West Pacific Region and American Samoa.
- Central Pacific Bank – Central Pacific Bank announced its 35 branch locations will be accepting monetary donations to benefit Hawai‘i disaster relief efforts. Monetary donations will go toward The Salvation Army’s EDS efforts in Hawai‘i, with the opportunity for customers to designate support of either Hawai‘i Island or Kaua‘i relief and recovery efforts.
- First Hawaiian Bank – Aloha for Hawai‘i Fund to support The Salvation Army’s relief efforts for the Kīlauea Volcano Eruption on the Big Island and recovery efforts for flooding on Kaua‘i and in East O‘ahu. Donations can now be made at any of First Hawaiian Bank’s 61 branches located in Hawai‘i, Guam and Saipan.
- Hawai‘i National Bank – Hawai‘i National Bank is collecting monetary donations for The Salvation Army’s EDS efforts in Hawai‘i at all 13 of their branches on O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island.
- HiLife (Kokua Collection) – A percentage of the proceeds from various HiLife clothing items in their Kokua Collection will be donated to Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands division to assist with their relief efforts to victims of recent devastating floods on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i as well as erupting volcano on Hawai‘i island. For details, visit https://hilifehawaii.com/collections/kokua
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