Hurricane Katrina displaced almost all of the New Orleans population when it slammed the Gulf Coast five years ago.  Studies show that only about half of the population had returned a year later, increasing to two-thirds by fall of 2007.

While living in southeast Texas, I was surprised by how many people I met during the year following Hurricane Katrina who were hurricane evacuees still waiting to return home. They said they either had no where left to go or the conditions just weren’t liveable. Some said they decided to not go back at all. These conversations made me realize that restoring New Orleans was more than just cleaning up debris and reconstructing buildings. The heart and soul of the ‘Big Easy’ was its residents, but its residents were finding it very difficult to be able to return and thrive back home.

The Salvation Army of New Orleans recognized this problem and launched EnviRenew,  a strategy to renew communities through continued Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. Envirenew began in 2006 and continues to find innovative ways to strengthen New Orleans.

Pictured is an affordable, energy efficient home built through EnviRenew. These units are helping revive New Orleans communities, and they're also designed to withstand strong weather.

The initiative really is amazing. They’ve awarded $10 million in grants to help rebuild 5 New Orleans neighborhoods.  They’re constructing affordable, green homes for those in need, improving quality of life and breaking down the high cost barriers that prevent most of these people from being able to return and rebuild. They’re also attracting teachers and first responders to the neighborhoods to make them even stronger. The whole approach is making a positive difference and has even gained expert support.

The interior of an EnviRenew home.

Even 5 years after Hurricane Katrina, The Salvation Army remains committed to help New Orleans progress from a “recovering” city to a “resilient” city. This week you can even have an opportunity to be a part of this!

This Thursday, August 26, The Salvation Army will host a co-sponsored event with FedEx called “The Resiliency Summit.” New Orleans leaders along with national and local experts will celebrate the progress made over the past 5 years and discuss what it will take to create a vibrant and sustainable future for New Orleans communities. This event is free and open to the public, but you have to sign up at EnviRenew’s website beforehand! Register here.

Stay tuned to our blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages for updates on this exciting event. For more information on Envirenew, visit their website at www.envirenew.org.

August 29 marks the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Be sure to tune in to CNN this Saturday and Sunday night (August 21 and 22) at 8pm ET for ‘New Orleans Rising,’ a Soledad O’Brien documentary which chronicles the rebuilding efforts of the New Orleans neighborhood Pontchartrain Park.

The special will include a look at how The Salvation Army’s assistance helped this community recover.

You won’t want to miss it!

In addition, we’ll also be releasing videos and information every day next week regarding The Salvation Army’s efforts and New Orleans’ progress, so check back regularly at our blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages!

Yesterday we posted an updated bulletin regarding The Salvation Army’s ongoing relief work in Pakistan in response to the area’s devastating floods.

Today we are sharing the firsthand account of Major Dennis Gensler of The Salvation Army Pakistan Territory as he visited recovering communities. Some of his narrative expands on the events described in yesterday’s bulletin, and much of the narrative provides additional detail exclusive to Major Gensler’s own experience. We hope it will provide you with a more personal view of The Salvation Army’s relief efforts and the plight of flood survivors.

“We left Territorial Headquarters Saturday 14 August at 4:30 am for the four hour trip to Islamabad to pick up other members of the Disaster team before going the remaining two hours to Charsadda.  We were in two vehicles as the plan was to leave the four-wheel drive truck with the Islamabad team for their future visits to the flood areas.

Flood survivors receive supplies and prayer and The Salvation Army's distribution in Charsadda.

We were grateful for the good organization that Captain Asif in Peshawar had arranged.  Each family that was to be helped had a paper with their name and identification number on it and they were numbered from 1 to 100.  After showing their identification card and giving their thumb print they were given a canvas bag with cooking utensils, pots, buckets, plates, cups, and kettles.  They also received a foam mattress, a quilt and a large pillow.  Everyone was very grateful for these very useful items.  We did this in three places for a total of 300 families being assisted and it all ran very smoothly.  We were able to have prayer at each location.  We were joined by a few of the Bishops of other denominations and even a Muslim leader came and shared a few words at one of them.  We also had the MPA (Member of Provincial Assembly) for the Peshawar area Prince Javed participate in one of the distributions.  We are expecting to help at least 3,000 families in this area alone.

After a long day of passing out relief goods we went into Peshawar to spend the night at a guest house.   Peshawar was not at all what I expected.  It’s really a very large and modern place.

Major Gensler took this photo of a group of boys in Peshawar, one of whom is carrying a pistol, but it's unknown if it was real or a toy. The Major said his "heart was aching" for them.

On Sunday morning we did some additional assessments at some of the areas affected by the flood waters.  We visited some families whose small mud homes were missing walls and parts of the roof.  One home had a large hole in a small bedroom where a woman was in mud up to her neck and had to be pulled out by a few men.  They were already working on rebuilding some of the mud walls and in some cases they will use some bricks.  It’s not that much stronger, since they don’t use cement with the bricks – only mud.  One little boy in this area was holding a 9 mm pistol which he seemed to keep at his side, somewhat hidden.  I wasn’t sure if it was real or a toy, but being an American in Peshawar I felt my heart race a bit.  I called him and some other boys near to me for a picture.  It’s hard to imagine the affect that all of this is going to have on the children.  My heart was aching for each of them.

Flood waters left virtually nothing standing in Azhakel.

The really disturbing place that we visited was a village called Azhakhel, which as it turns out was an Afghan Refugee Camp.  As I looked at the map it appears this place is right at the bend in the river.  Another village just to the west is called Pabbi and they were hit just as hard.  As far as we could see in either direction was total destruction.   Villagers told us that there were around 15,000 families in these places, but we couldn’t verify that.

Major Gensler prays with the community members of Azakhel.

The work of recovery and rebuilding here in Pakistan will take years.  They were already so far behind, but this will just send them back even further.  I wish I could rely on the generous gifts from around the world to give what is necessary, but considering how Pakistan has become alienated from so many I don’t see that happening.  I wish more people could see the Pakistan that I have come to see in the last six months.  I’m certain they would give more.”

If you would like to support The Salvation Army’s relief efforts in Pakistan, you can donate by clicking here.

Pakistan flood survivors in Charsadda sign in to receive relief supplies from The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army in Pakistan continued its initial response to the floods that have are now thought to have affected 20 million people by distributing bedding and cooking utensil packs to 300 families in Charsadda. An assessment team visited Charsadda a week earlier and discovered that the floods had devastated the town, wrecking homes and businesses.

The distribution team included Lieut-Colonel Yousaf Ghulam (Chief Secretary of the Salvation Army’s Pakistan Territory) and Lieut-Colonel Rebecca Yousaf (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries).

The first distribution, to 100 families, took place at Charsadda Bible Church. Lieut-Colonel Ghulam spoke to community members, offering sympathy.

The Bishop of Peshawar arrived during the distribution and thanked The Salvation Army for its work. Members of the local media were also present and asked many questions about The Salvation Army.

The next distribution was in a hujra (an annex to a main building) in Charsadda for two hundred Muslim families. There was a large crowd of people already gathered when the team arrived but the proceedings went smoothly. The chief secretary gave a short message for the community and the bishop offered words of comfort. Local Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Mr Javed Prince added a few words of sympathy for the community.

The Salvation Army provided bedding and cooking utensils for survivors whose homes and possessions were devastated by the floods.

One of the recipients in Charsadda was Noor Ali, a student. He told the Salvation Army team that his family fled their home when the waters began to rise. When they returned home the house was full of water.

He said, “We are determined to face this big challenge. We will do hard work to reconstruct our houses. At the moment we are having problems but we are brave and we can fight.”

Imran Azm, a policeman who works in Peshawar, collected supplies for his parents. He told team members that he is determined to provide for his family.

Both Noor and Imran expressed their gratitude for what they described as a ‘token of love’ given by The Salvation Army.

The next day, the team visited Academy Town Corps (Salvation Army church) to meet affected families. Assessment visits were also made to Nowshera, Pabi, Jahangia and Aza khail, all communities near the River Kabul.

In Aza khail the team saw people in desperate need. The community of around 15,000 people was near to the river and its houses were washed away. The people who remain explained that many bodies have yet to be found because they were swept away by the flood or buried under rubble.

The community members asked for tents to provide shelter. The Salvation Army is putting together funds so it can look to buy a large number of tents that will begin to address some of the people’s most urgent needs.

For more information visit The Salvation Army Pakistan’s website at http://www.salvationarmy.org/pak/www_pak.nsf/.

Adapted from a report by Salvation Army Captain Imran Sabir

Today is National Thrift Stop Day! What are you going to do to celebrate?

How about donating to or visiting a Salvation Army Family Thrift Store?

If you’ve been meaning to get rid of those extra clothes, books, and clutter taking up space in your house, today’s the perfect day to do it.

Or maybe you need to do some back to school clothes shopping or find the pieces for that do-it-yourself redecorating project.

Salvation Army Family Thrift Stores provide a convenient way to recycle new or gently used items and our discounted prices are wallet-friendly, both great benefits for you and your family.

But your support of our Thrift Stores also significantly helps us serve people in need!

Sales from our stores fund Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers where men and women learn life and employment skills that prepare them to re-enter society and the job market.

All great reasons to celebrate. Happy National Thrift Stop Day!

Last week in Atlanta was a desperate scene as a crowd of 30,000 people gathered for the chance to receive a public housing assistance application. The throng spent hours enduring sweltering temperatures even though the city’s available public aid falls far short of the exceeding need. The situation is representative of the overall dire economic struggle faced by the city’s sizeable low-income population.

Around the same time the event made national headlines, The Salvation Army of Atlanta posted a video of a homeless mother (above) who has found shelter and resources through their center. The assistance will keep her family off the streets and empower her to become self-supporting again.  The mother’s account shines as a positive contrast to the pessimistic news stories, showing hope available through The Salvation Army for those who have fallen into economic crisis.

The city’s need, though, has resulted in a significant increase in demand for services from The Salvation Army Atlanta and has put a strain on their operational resources. Staff has logged countless hours of overtime. They are fielding some 40,000 calls each day from metro Atlanta residents seeking relief and their phone systems are overwhelmed.

The Salvation Army of Atlanta says that “no one should be turned away in a time of need.”

Therefore, they’ve launched a “Call to Action” campaign to raise $300,000 in additional funds by September 30, 2010 to help meet the needs of hurting callers. Now they need your help to meet this goal!

If you would like to support The Salvation Army Atlanta’s efforts to help those in need, you can donate by:

-          Clicking Here to make a secure online donation

-          Phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY

-          Mail:

c/o Call To Action

The Salvation Army

P.O. Box 49247

Atlanta, GA 30359

For more information on how you can help, visit The Salvation Army Atlanta’s website at www.salvationarmyatlanta.org or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and their blog.

Thank you for your support and consideration!

The headlines under the newspaper’s business section seem to leave us lacking in optimism as of late.

Participation in the nation’s food stamp program hit a record high of 40.8 million in May, continuing a pattern of record highs for 18 straight months.

U.S. unemployment for July remained unchanged at 9.5%.

With the job market still struggling, the U.S. Congress passed another unemployment benefits extension for Americans without work who are trying to support themselves and their families.

Increased need has resulted in unprecedented demand for social services at many non-profits and charities, including The Salvation Army.

As mentioned in our National 2010 Annual Report, some local Salvation Army units have reported a demand for services more than 400% above normal. In Hickory, North Carolina, we’ve served 75,000 more people than this time last year. And one of our food pantries in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania serves up to 50 families per week, up from last year’s 15 families per week.

The good news is it seems that with increased need there’s also been a heightened call in general for philanthropic generosity.

Recently Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett announced an initiative called ‘The Giving Pledge,’ an effort to encourage American billionaires to give half of their wealth to charities or non-profits during their lifetime or after their death. It’s an interesting idea that they hope will “draw more people into philanthropy” and “continue for generations” to come. A list of pledge signers, including George Lucas, Ted Turner and T. Boone Pickens, is available at http://givingpledge.org.

What do you think of this idea? What causes would you like to see supported by these pledge signers?

It would be wonderful if this initiative did result in more resources reaching those most in need, but thankfully you don’t have to be a billionaire to make a difference.

In fact, I would argue that Salvation Army supporters are some of the most generous people out there. This year The Salvation Army’s Christmas Red Kettle donations soared to a record $139 million. That’s $9 million more than our 2008 record, another year in which the economy and logic suggested that donations would be down. And no, these donations did not come from billionaires. Most of it came in pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters from regular people with big hearts.

Though many Salvation Army offices were not (and are not) exempt from the strain of limited resources amidst escalating demand, The Salvation Army was able to provide help to nearly 30 million Americans last year thanks to our benevolent donors.

So while headlines may tempt us to feel dispirited, thankfully, as our supporters show us, there’s more to the story.

The Salvation Army USA’s National Commander Israel L. Gaither shares the vision of our organization.

The Salvation Army has released its 2010 online annual report, available at http://www.salvationarmyannualreport.com/.

The theme of this year’s report is “Shine” – The Salvation Army strives to be a shining light of hope in communities nationwide. As we continue to navigate through difficult economic times, we’re encouraged by the stories we hear each day from across the country. Some of these stories are shared in this report — from an after school program in St. Paul, MN; to a GED course in Tucson, AZ; a family shelter in Akron, OH and a Boys & Girls Club in Tulsa, OK.

The people you see in these videos, from teenagers to an 80+ year-old woman, are telling their real, personal accounts of how The Salvation Army has helped them turn their lives around. Their stories are truly inspiring and stand as a reminder of why we do what we do every single day.

As one of the oldest and largest social service charities in the United States, The Salvation Army provided help to nearly 30 million Americans last year alone. During our previous fiscal year, The Salvation Army:

• Served 64 million meals to people in need
• Helped nearly 1 million Americans following disasters
• Sent 180,000 unprivileged kids to summer camp
• Counseled 370,000 individuals with drug and alcohol rehabilitation

Thank you for your support that has helped make our service possible. Learn more through our annual report about The Salvation Army’s diverse programs and services utilized by those in need last year.

And please help us spread the word – Tweet, Facebook and email the report to friends, family, neighbors – anyone who might want to learn that The Salvation Army is about a lot more than thrift stores and kettles! Check us out and find more information on:

• Facebook (www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyUSA)
• Twitter (www.twitter.com/salvationarmyus)
• National Website (www.salvationarmyusa.org)

Thanks again for your continued support of The Salvation Army!

More than 12,000 students in need across the country did their school supplies shopping today as a part of Target and The Salvation Army’s Back-to-School Spree!

Each participating child, selected by The Salvation Army, was awarded an $80 Target GiftCard to purchase much-needed back-to-school supplies, and they were paired with a volunteer chaperone to help them pick out their new items.  Target has awarded all 40 of The Salvation Army divisions nationwide a total of $960,000 worth of Target GiftCards, an incredible donation that without which this event would not be possible.

We here at The Salvation Army National Headquarters had the great pleasure of attending the Back-to-School Spree that took place at the Target in Falls Church, VA this morning. It was a GREAT time!

For more pictures from today’s Back-to-School Spree, visit The Salvation Army’s National Flickr page HERE.

The aisles of fresh notebooks, colorful markers, and shiny backpacks generated pure excitement in the faces of the kids as they perused the shelves with their Salvation Army volunteer chaperones. 30 local area children ranging from grade levels K-12 participated at this location. For many of them it was the first time they’ve ever bought brand new school supplies, but this year they’ll be able to start the upcoming academic year prepared and confident.

With a full shopping cart, 5^th grader Quentin confirmed his readiness, especially for his favorite class math. He made sure to purchase a ruler, pencils, and plenty of erasers.  “It was good. I feel grateful. I don’t have to go back and get more because I got all of it,” he told me.

7^th grader Ty-anna’s grin gave away her excitement. Armed with new supplies Ty-anna  said, “I won’t be behind at school. This has helped me a lot. It makes me really happy.”

A smiley 3^rd grader named We’am recognized that while she had fun shopping, she knew it was also helping out her mom who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford new school supplies for We’am and her siblings.

Salvation Army Officer Captain Vance Murphy said, “It was neat watching the kids’ faces light up and listen to them talk about what they were going to buy. I don’t know who gets more out of this – the kids or volunteers.”

Major Steve Morris from The Salvation Army’s National Area Command believes the benefits are shared evenly. “I think every volunteer here has said they’ve made a new friend. It’s more than just, ‘let’s go do this job.’ There’s a relationship built. That’s the Army’s touch. It’s equally beneficial.”

His idea seemed to be proven by a particular Salvation Army volunteer and 8^th grade shopper who both share the name Toni. As they checked out with the Target cashier, it was hard to tell who was more excited about the day’s shopping.  8^th grader Toni said she couldn’t believe the generosity shown by Target and The Salvation Army, and especially her volunteer chaperone whom she had just met less than a few hours earlier. “I’m so happy! I’m so thankful!” she bubbled. Her chaperone added, “I’m in ecstasy with her joy. Her expression was worth every moment!” The two gave each other an emotional hug before heading outside with their bags.

Thanks to Target’s generous partnership, today’s Back-to-School Spree was a huge success. Thousands of needy kids across the country are now prepared and excited to start their school year, while volunteers left equally inspired. Thank you to everyone who participated today, especially Target, who has shown a strong commitment to supporting children and education.

For more pictures from today’s Back-to-School Spree, visit The Salvation Army’s Flickr page here.

P.S. We heard that at a Back-to-School Spree in Altoona, Pennsylvania some lucky kids got to shop with some local heroes! Players from the Altoona Curve, the area’s minor league baseball team, came out to volunteer as chaperones. See photos of pitcher Justin Wilson and pitcher Dustin Mollekin on our Flickr site here.

An anonymous donor's pocket change, saved in an over-sized Coke bottle, really added up!

The Salvation Army in Cincinnati announced it received a contribution of almost $1100 – all in coins! The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, had been collecting his ‘pocket change’ in an over-sized, plastic Coca-Cola bottle. It took a few days to process all the coins, which included everything from pennies to Susan B. Anthony dollar coins. The final tally came to $1092.06 and will be used for social services programs in the local community.

“Over the years, I would always just throw my pocket change and miscellaneous coins in this big old Coke bottle, and it eventually filled up,” stated the donor. “I found out that there wasn’t any easy way to count all those coins, or run it through a machine, so I had the idea to donate it to The Salvation Army, anticipating they have coin counters for the donations they receive in the kettles every Christmas.”

“The Salvation Army is delighted with every contribution that helps us fulfill our mission,” stated Matt Pearce, Divisional Development Director for The Salvation Army. “This certainly is a unique contribution, but it added up to be very substantial, and we’re very grateful that the donor thought of The Salvation Army.”

Information provided by Bill Schinkal of The Salvation Army’s Southwest Ohio and Northeast Kentucky Division. Learn more about the services they offer at www.salvationarmycincinnati.org.