Community Corner
Salvation Army’s Canteen Serves Up Help to Flood Victims, Volunteers
Crystal Lake Salvation Army traveling throughout McHenry County to help out.
A few volunteers filling sandbags in Nunda Township were taking a break and got some food and drinks from the Salvation Army of McHenry County’s canteen.
The boys asked how much they owed and were surprised to learn it was free, said Linda Hunter-West, a spokeswoman with the Salvation Army. It is based in Crystal Lake.
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“We never accept money at the canteen. We are out there to help provide for the people who are first responders, individuals involved in the incident or volunteers,” Hunter-West said.
“We are out there to serve a warm meal, a snack, hot coffee or hot chocolate. We want to do what we can to make the circumstance a little bit nicer and make sure people are well nourished.”
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Flood victims, volunteers and emergency personnel are getting a helping hand from the Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services canteen.
So far, the canteen has supplied 285 meals, 512 snacks and 697 beverages, Hunter-West said.
The canteen has been on call 24 hours a day since last week, traveling to Nunda and Algonquin Townships in areas affected by flooding.
Volunteers and Salvation Army employees run the canteen. Any volunteer must go through training to be part of a team called out on disasters, whether a fire or weather emergencies.
Funding comes through donations to the agency’s Emergency Disaster Services and private donations. Individuals or business can donate cases of water or supplies, she said.
It has been a hectic week for the Salvation Army and the mobile canteen
“There are many, many families whose houses are damaged and individuals at risk of losing their homes,” said Hunter-West, who has been out to flooded areas. “It’s critical at this point for people who live along the waterfront.”
The canteen is being sent out wherever help is needed, she said. It will be available for as long as there is a need in the community, she added.
“When the flooding subsides, we will be there to help the families in whatever ways we can,” Hunter-West said.
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