Source: Birmingham News
When Salvation Army officials walked into a 33,000-square-foot warehouse in Birmingham on Friday, it was empty.
On Saturday the building, obtained at no cost, opened to begin accepting donations of items that tornado survivors will need.
By Monday morning dozens of volunteers had transformed the warehouse into a supermarket-style operation.
Tornado survivors maneuvered shopping carts on loan from Publix through aisles of tables laden with cases of bottled water, stacks of clothes, diapers, sheets and canned goods.
Volunteers helped load the goods into the cars.
“The community is just so giving,” said Salvation Army Maj. Christine Smith.
The Salvation Army center at 350 Industrial Drive, off Lakeshore Parkway, opened Monday for tornado survivors to get basic necessities.
Tim Rembert, 35, and his brother, Michael Rembert, came by to get pillows, food, clothing and shoes. The two live in a When Salvation Army officials walked into a 33,000-square-foot warehouse in Birmingham on Friday, it was empty.
On Saturday the building, obtained at no cost, opened to begin accepting donations of items that tornado survivors will need.
By Monday morning dozens of volunteers had transformed the warehouse into a supermarket-style operation. Tornado survivors maneuvered shopping carts on loan from Publix through aisles of tables laden with cases of bottled water, stacks of clothes, diapers, sheets and canned goods.
Volunteers helped load the goods into the cars.
“The community is just so giving,” said Salvation Army Maj. Christine Smith.
The Salvation Army center at 350 Industrial Drive, off Lakeshore Parkway, opened Monday for tornado survivors to get basic necessities.
Tim Rembert, 35, and his brother, Michael Rembert, came by to get pillows, food, clothing and shoes. The two live in a house in Pratt City that was damaged by a falling tree, and now they’re staying with their mother in West End.
“Basically everything was water damaged,” Tim Rembert said. “We basically don’t have anything, so this is helping us a whole lot.”
Besides donated items, the warehouse is being used to house the supplies for mobile canteens set up in the disaster areas.
Steve Graham, a member of the Salvation Army’s advisory board, had helped get the vacant warehouse, which Graham & Company lists for sale. The Salvation Army had used the warehouse for its Angel Tree program last year.
The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, but could open Saturday and Sunday this weekend, said Brian Wallace, a spokesman for the Salvation Army. After that, he said, “if the need grows we’ll open it up on the weekend.”
During its hours of operation the center also will continue to accept donations of food, water and other supplies.
Salvation Army officials said they no longer need clothing. But there are three things they do need: manual can openers, first-aid kits and baby formula.
Tornado survivors can come by and get what they need simply by providing their address, with no proof needed, Smith said. “It will help them at least a few days so they’re not going hungry,” she said.
Forty to 50 volunteers are needed each day to keep the center going. Anyone who wants to volunteer can sign up at www.birminghamsalvationarmy.org> Smith said.
Among the 39 volunteers Monday were Anna Pugh and Natalie Landers, two 13-year-old students from North Jefferson Middle School. Both said they felt the need to help others while they were out of school because of the storm.
What’s the best part?
“The feeling when you see the smiles on their faces,” Natalie said.
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