Corinth Salvation Army On Call for Harvey Relief Efforts

By Josh Mitchell

Corinth Today News Editor

The Corinth Salvation Army is prepared to ship off to the Houston area at any minute.

It is unclear when Corinth Salvation Army officials may be deployed to the Hurricane Harvey disaster zone, but the call is expected to come.

“We have our bags packed, and we’re ready,” said Michelle Miles, Corinth Salvation Army Service Center manager. “We’ve been trained, and we hold our credentials for disaster.”

The Salvation Army in Fulton is also expected to be called to support the hurricane relief efforts, Miles said.

“It’s such a widespread disaster, and it’s so huge that they’re pulling manpower from everywhere,” Miles said.

Typically, the Salvation Army crews stay about two weeks at a time before rotating out, she said.

However, Miles was deployed much longer for Hurricane Katrina when she served about four and a half months between McComb and Bogalusa, La.

She has also worked other disasters such as tornadoes in Mississippi and Alabama.

It is heart wrenching to see people who have lost everything in the blink of an eye, she said.

“The saddest thing I’ve ever seen is that look when they’re lost, they don’t know where to go,” Miles said. “They don’t know what the next step is. Emotionally they’re devastated.”

The Salvation Army organization as a whole has already made a big impact with the relief efforts by serving more than 57,000 meals, giving out over 1,000 comfort kits with items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and shampoo, and providing more than 27,000 snacks.

In addition, the Salvation Army has registered hurricane victims for emotional and spiritual care.

The organization also helps victims determine what other services they need to connect with such as FEMA, Miles added.

People can make monetary donations to the Salvation Army in numerous ways.

“The Salvation Army has made a proclamation that 100 percent of any donations that are given for Harvey will spent and used for Harvey victims,” Miles said.

Donations can be made online at helpsalvationarmy.org or by mailing a check to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1959, Atlanta, GA, 30301. Donors need to designate that their check is for Hurricane Harvey. People can also call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or text “storm” to 51555.