Vet News: The Salvation Army Helps Families and Troops Face War-Related Emotional, Spiritual and Financial Challenges

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to provide immediate comfort and relief while the country is at war, The Salvation Army has expanded its service programs to address the needs of U.S. troops, their families and their communities.

"Right now, The Salvation Army’s role is to help U.S. troops and their families stay strong while dealing with the many spiritual, emotional and physical challenges this war presents," said Salvation Army National Commander Commissioner W. Todd Bassett.

The Salvation Army is providing food, drink and comfort to U.S. military personnel as they prepare to face war in the Middle East. In Indianapolis, Ind., for instance, where thousands of troops prepare to depart from Camp Atterbury, a central deployment site, The Salvation Army is assembling and distributing care packages for soldiers to take overseas. "Operation Compassion from the Home Front" has already provided more than 11,000 Salvation Army care packages for National Guard and Reserve troops leaving for active duty. Each care package contains an assortment of items, including T- shirts, socks, hats and gloves, ink pens, post cards and stamps, games, puzzles and playing cards, toiletry items and more.

In Moreno Valley, Calif., The Salvation Army is offering food, drink and compassion to Marines departing for the Middle East from the March Air Reserve Base. The base is home to the 452nd Air Mobility Wing of the Air Force Reserve and, in recent weeks, has been host to over 30,000 Marine Reserves on their way to the Middle East. There, The Salvation Army expects to serve more than 30,000 marines on their way overseas and hopes to serve them, again, upon their return.

The Marine Corps’ requests are different every day and The Salvation Army works to meet each and every one of them. In the eight weeks The Salvation Army has been present at the base, it has distributed approximately 150,000 items ranging from phone cards, to bottled water, to personal hygiene kits, to Old and New Testaments.

The Salvation Army is also supporting the families of troops with services ranging from the provision of financial assistance for rent and utility payments, and for meeting basic human needs, to planning "baby showers" for the pregnant wives of U.S. soldiers, alleviating worry about how they will manage financially when they welcome their infants home, without the support of their spouses. Items that will be distributed include diapers, baby powder, receiving blankets and other comfort items.

"The Salvation Army is committed to nurturing the spirits of all those affected by this war," added Bassett. "Many Americans have asked The Salvation Army where they can get help in the form of counseling, or how they can show their support for the U.S. troops abroad. The Salvation Army encourages all Americans to contact their local Salvation Army corps to learn about counseling services, or activities being organized in their areas."

Local contact information can be obtained by calling 800-SAL-ARMY.