Salvation Army Uses Facebook to Take Prayer Requests for Disaster Survivors

Tuscaloosa, AL - May 07, 2011 – A growing list of prayer requests in blue marker continues to fill the white dry-erase board in front of The Salvation Army’s temporary disaster unit.

This morning Capt. Joe May, assigned Emotional and Spiritual Care Officer for Tuscaloosa’s disaster response, directed the requests to go viral by posting on Facebook.

Capt. May says that “using The Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi Division’s Facebook is an important medium to both get existing prayer requests out and take on additional requests.” Trained Emotional and Spiritual Care Officers are on the ground at Red Cross shelters and at mobile disaster canteens to offer support and care as individuals begin to process the gravity of this disaster.

People can go to Facebook and “Like” The Salvation Army’s Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi Division Facebook page to post prayer requests. The current list includes:

•A mother of 4 who has 3 missing children, 1 confirmed as deceased as well as losing a brother in the storm,

•Sgt. Ruthie Forgie, corps officer in Cleveland TN, a community also hard-hit by a tornado

•Those afraid to seek help,

•The Latino Community,

•Everyone affected in Tuscaloosa and beyond,

•A warehouse for The Salvation Army’s disaster response in Tuscaloosa to begin case management and material storage

•TuscaloosaCorps Officers Majors David and Cherry Craddock

•Salvation Army staff and volunteers helping with the disaster and supporting those in the field

The Tuscaloosa Corps facility and local emergency canteen were heavily damaged in the April 27th tornado, rendering the facility and local mobile canteen inoperable. Mobile Incident Command operations at the Tuscaloosa Airport location are working to manage efforts and set up collection and distribution points around the region. Currently, no donations are being accepted at this location as there is a critical lack of storage and distribution resources.

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 and changing needs of disaster survivors. The Salvation Army asks those who want to help to visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org, text “GIVE” to 80888 for a $10 donation given from your cell phone or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) and designate their gift "April 2011 Tornado Outbreak." 

By:  Shane Autrey