Helping Neighbors in Need
Three people died and sixteen were injured last month when a fast-moving fire destroyed much of the Royal Suites Lodge apartments in Anchorage. Dozens of people ended up forced from their homes, their lives disrupted and many or most of their belongings destroyed.
The Salvation Army immediately set to work. "The first thing we had to do was feed these people." says Jenni Ragland, Director of Emergency Services for The Salvation Army Alaska Division. "Almost 50 people were in the emergency shelter and their basic needs had to be attended to."
The Salvation Army Family Services and Older Alaskans Program spent the next few days preparing, delivering, and distributing lunch and dinner for the victims.
Donations from the community poured in to help ease the burden of the newly homeless. "Due to the varied circumstances of the affected people, we asked for donations to be brought to our Family Stores." says Ragland, "Some of these people had lost everything, and whole families were affected. We needed clothes of all sizes, household goods like toasters, blankets, winter gear."
To address their needs, Family Store vouchers were issued to everyone who needed them. This process provides immediate help for survivors with urgent need for things like winter coats and clothing or allows them to shop when they've found housing and need items to help set up their home.