Merv Lyndall is Doing the Most Good

While he’s not an employee of The Salvation Army, Merv Lyndall is certainly a regular fixture at the Command. Merv’s a volunteer extraordinaire who came The Salvation Army early last February while he was looking for a place to live after he was diagnosed with cancer last Fall.

“I spent a month in the hospital after I was diagnosed with cancer and saw many people who weren’t going to leave the hospital,” Merv said. “As bad as my situation was, I was much more fortunate than some other patients because I was able to leave. When I left, I decided I wanted to give back.”  

After being released from the hospital in late January, Merv came to The Salvation Army in hope of finding a place to stay. During that process, he met Volunteer Coordinator, Yvonne. Merv expressed his interest in volunteering to Yvonne and she told him that she was looking for someone with experience with gardening and small construction projects. This project was perfect for Merv and he immediately volunteered to help her out. He’s been helping out in the garden and where ever he can five to six days a week since.

Before getting sick, Merv split his time between theKnoxvillearea andAtlantaworking on different construction projects. Some local projects he worked on include theTitanicMuseum,SevierCountyWildlifeCenterand Sevierville City Jail. 

Merv says he’s thankful to be part of The Salvation Army’s mission and for the wonderful friends he’s met here and the spiritual support they’ve given him. “I love helping out here,” Merv added. “It’s good for my spirit and I’m thankful that you are letting me help those less fortunate with you. I don’t have a lot but I enjoy giving back.”

Thank you, Merv for being a shield and for doing the most good!

Neighbors In Need

On May 18, The Salvation Army of Knoxville and the local NBC affiliate, WBIR delivered a large truckload of donations to those affected by the deadly storms that recently ripped through Bradley County. For five days preceding the delivery, Knoxvillians generously donated items at eight area Wal-Marts while WBIR gave viewers daily donation updates. The thousands of pounds of donated food, cleaning supplies, household items and pet care items were a welcomed sight for those who desperately need it.

“With over 500 homes considered unlivable inBradleyCounty, the devastation was immense and right now, the need is for everything,” said Joel Rogers, Youth Director for The Salvation Army of Cleveland, Tenn. “They need all the basic supplies that we all use everyday and take for granted. We’ve been so blessed that theKnoxvillecommunity and the Channel 10 viewers stepped up to the plate to send us some of the needed items.”

While in Cleveland, WBIR broadcasted their Live at Five at Four show live from The Salvation Army distribution center on Barneys Lane. The whole hour-long broadcast focused on the recovery efforts in BradleyCounty. Click here to see segments from the show. Thanks to WBIR, Knoxville-area Wal-Marts and to those who donated for doing the most good.

Knoxville Area Command: Knoxville Team Contributes to Relief Efforts in VA

The Knoxville Area Command’s Jonathan Haskell has been dispatched to assist relief efforts in Washington County, VA.  He shares this report:
Glade Spring, VA (May 3, 2011) The Salvation Army is continuing to provide relief to victims of one of the worst storms to ever hit this part of the country. 

“I grew up in the Midwest, but I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said one local resident named Richard.  “I’m very happy to be alive.”

Richard and his wife, Carolyn survived the storm by crouching down in a pantry next to the stove in their kitchen. There was no time to get to the basement, as their home literally came apart around them.  Their roof blew off, windows exploded and walls collapsed.

“We kissed each other and said our goodbyes,” added Carolyn, “but somehow, we made it through.”

This afternoon, as another round of storms approached, the Salvation Army team and a group of friends helped them move the rest of their belongings into the basement in hopes that they would stay dry.  Like many local residents, Richard and Carolyn are still waiting, a week after the tornado, for a visit from their claims adjuster.  Until then, they are hesitant to clean up too much.

Salvation Army workers continued up and down the street offering meals, drinks, encouragement and prayers to people who have lost so much.  (Photographs are available at www.facebook.com/knoxredshield.)

Over the course of two days in Glade Spring, The Salvation Army has provided:

• 415 meals
• 415 drinks
• 205 cups of coffee
• 20 cases of water
• Spiritual assistance for 50 people

 The Salvation Army will continue serving from its staging area near Interstate 81 in Glade Spring and will also continue roaming the hardest hit neighborhoods.

The best way to help tornado survivors and rescue workers is to make a financial contribution. Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors.  The Salvation Army asks those who want to help to visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) and designate their gift “April 2011 Tornado Outbreak.”  Checks may be made out to:

The Salvation Army Disaster Relief
P.O. Box 100339
Atlanta, GA 30384-0339

At this point, in-kind donations are not being accepted outside the disaster area.  Used clothing and used furniture are seldom required during an incident.  However, these gifts are vitally important in supporting the day-to-day work of your local Salvation Army. Please consider giving these items to your local Salvation Army Thrift Store or dial 1-800-SA-TRUCK.

National Salvation Army Week

National Salvation Army Week will be celebrated the week of May 9 this year. This year, The Salvation Army’s Knoxville Area Command has planned some events to allow the community to participate in the special week. Events planned include: a “Get Caught Giving Event” at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and a gardening class held at The Salvation Army. We’ll be announcing other events that will take place that week via Facebook and Twitter. Keep an eye out for more details and some special surprises!

National Salvation Army Week, typically observed in the second week of May, was first declared by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954. In the proclamation, Eisenhower noted: “Among Americans, The Salvation Army has long been a symbol of wholehearted dedication to the cause of human brotherhood . . . Their work has been a constant reminder to us all that each of us is neighbor and kin to all Americans, giving freely of themselves, the men and women of The Salvation Army have won the respect of us all.”

To read a contemporary news report of the original proclamation, click here. 

In 2001, President George W. Bush issued a new proclamation recognizing the week, stating: “During this week, I encourage Americans to express their appreciation for the Salvation Army’s good works and to follow their example of serving a cause greater than themselves.” President Bush’s full proclamation is available here. 

Today, Salvation Army service units, along with volunteers, businesses and government, celebrate National Salvation Army Week through a variety of special events and activities across the country.

The Salvation Army Provides Assistance to Storm-Stricken Community

This year, spring rolled into East Tennessee with ferocity of a lion. After record setting rains in the Knoxville area in late February, weather once again wreaked havoc in the area. This time, however, it was a large tornado that touched down just outside the Greenback community on the evening of Wednesday, March 23. Once it was evident that the damage caused by the storm was widespread, The Salvation Army sprung into action.

We devised a plan of action late Wednesday night and arrived in Greenback early Thursday morning ready to do the most good. Once on location, the true scope of this disaster became apparent. The smell of freshly cut pine, the sounds of chainsaws and the radios of work crews as well as seeing debris scattered in every direction overwhelmed the senses. Working closely with Incident Commanders from both Blount and Loudon counties, our canteen was dispatched to a nearby parking lot to serve those who needed assistance. We quickly realized that those who could get off their property and away from the danger of downed trees and power lines chose to stay and begin cleaning up. It was then that we decided to mobilize our services and go to those who were affected by the storm.

Once we reached the areas that were hardest hit, we immediately began serving lunch. With everyone feverishly cleaning up and getting power restored, many of whom hadn’t taken a break since they began early in the morning, refreshments were a welcome sight. Sergeant Jared Martin of Mercy Chapel, a ministry of The Salvation Army, was on hand to provide pastoral assistance if someone were to need it. We took the time to chat with the homeowners and listen to their stories from the night before. In addition to providing them with sustenance, we also lent them a caring hand in anyway possible.

The day following the storm, we served about 150 meals to homeowners, volunteers and emergency responders alike. We returned Friday morning with hot coffee and breakfast for those continuing the daunting task at hand.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Greenback as they begin rebuild. We found out just how tightly knit the community is are confident they’ll persevere.

Mercy Chapel Provides Joy and a Renewed Sense of Hope

 

 

 

William Booth founded The Salvation Army as a radical hybrid of a faith community and a social service movement. The Salvation Army’s Mercy Chapel in Maryville is committed to that model of ministry.   We bridge the gap between God’s compassion and people who are hurting.  Jesus declared that he “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).  We dedicate ourselves to keep seeking until the lost are found.  Those of us who embark on this search and rescue mission become well acquainted with stories from the lost. 

On Monday a sorrowful grandmother poured out her heart at our social service office.  Addiction had exacted a terrible toll on her family and her four grandchildren were about to be removed from their home. Rather than turn them over to the foster care system, she volunteered to take them in herself.   

Her grandchildren arrived on her doorstep with nothing but the clothes on their backs.  Sergeant Rachel Martin not only shared in her grief, but also provided a tangible solution.  With a clothing voucher from Rachel, the grandmother was able to take a surprise shopping trip for free clothes at our thrift store.   

When she invited the grandmother to pray, Rachel’s desk was transformed into an altar.  “Oh, yes!” she exclaimed and held out her hands to join in prayer.  Spiritually refreshed and with bags of clothes in hand, the grandmother walked out of the thrift store with joy and a renewed sense of hope. 

The next time you donate clothing to The Salvation Army remember that you’re doing more than cleaning out a closet.  You’re being a shield and offering hope to families in our community – some of whom have lost even their clothes to addiction. That’s doing the most good.

Giving Something Back

On February 28, the heavens opened up.  On a day when severe weather was expected, The Salvation Army was poised to aide those who needed assistance after the storms passed.  However, when the rains let up, it was the Second Harvest Food Bank that was among those receiving the worst damage.  

An organization that The Salvation Army has relied on heavily for a number of years to feed its clients was now in dire need. The heavy rains left over three feet of water in the food bank’s warehouse, destroying thousands of pounds of food, delivery trucks, fork lifts and offices.  With the food bank without power and floodwaters still receding the next morning, The Salvation Army sprung into action and mobilized its mobile disaster services canteen.

Thanks to Thomas Orth and the rest of the kitchen staff, The Salvation Army delivered a hot breakfast to the nearly 40 food bank employees the next morning. After assessing the damage, it was clear that the clean up efforts would be long and tedious. The Salvation Army then began providing Second Harvest Food Bank with the sustenance they had been providing The Salvation Army for years. The canteen provided two hot meals to the employees each day for the rest of the week.

It was the least The Salvation Army could do to help an organization, so vital to the community, get back to doing the most good.