Arkansas Community Pulls Together after May Tornadoes

Scotland, Arkansas (May 4, 2010) – In response to the tornadoes that ripped across Arkansas over the weekend, The Salvation Army dispatched mobile canteen feeding units to provide relief to the first responders and to storm victims.

When the canteen arrived in Scotland, Arkansas, the team was warmed by the sight of a community pulling together to support their neighbors. The Scotland Community Center was filled with volunteers and donated food and supplies. “I’ve been planning to use this building as a site for disaster relief ever since Clinton was hit by that tornado two years ago,” said James Burns, board chairman for the Scotland Community Foundation.

By Monday morning, volunteers at the Community Center had served 900 meals by combining resources from ten organizations including local churches and other disaster-response teams. The Salvation Army partnered with this group to take food out into hard-hit areas where victims could not access the services at the Community Center.

In all, 30 homes were destroyed, and 15 suffered damage. Sadly, one Clinton woman lost her life. The Salvation Army canteen team provided relief to the woman’s neighbors who described her as a key organizer for community projects. “Normally, she would have been the one coordinating all of this volunteer work,” said the neighbor from across the street, whose home was nothing more than a concrete slab. The team joined with the families and prayed before moving on to the next home.