Thursday, 25 March 2010 17:37 Last Updated on Friday, 02 April 2010 23:07 Written by vsattler

Front line Haiti disaster relief Champion featured as Salvation Army guest speaker for Annual Appreciation Event

One of first Americans relief workers to Haiti after quake

(Ft. Myers, FL) It doesn’t matter if the duty is at the Christmas Toy Shop or in sweltering heat in the canteen (mobile feeding unit) during a disaster, The Salvation Army can call up their volunteers and community partners and help arrives. These two special groups are classified as the “Force Behind the Red Shield.”

Please join The Salvation Army at the Civic & Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast as they pay tribute to these special people.

This year’s special guest speaker at the Civic & Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast is Major Tom Louden, Area Commander and Corp Officer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Major Louden and his team were the very first group of Americans to arrive in Haiti after the devastating earthquake had struck the improvised island. Clearing out the seats of an 8-seat passenger plane allowed Major Louden and his team to bring 2,000 lbs of desperately needed supplies into the country upon their arrival.

After spending almost an entire day trying to land somewhere near Port-au-Prince, Major Louden and his team were redirected to an area on the other side of Haiti. Knowing that time was crucial, The Salvation Army team rented cars to drive across the island to render aid. As they tirelessly drove for 48 hours, they knew they were nearing Port-au-Price because the mounds of dead bodies aligning the roads began to steadily increase. Major Louden describes this experience as one of the “bleakest times” in his life. For the Haitian people, he can’t begin to imagine the depth of their despair.

The attendees at this year’s tribute will get a chance to hear a first hand account of what the front lines disaster relief efforts were from Major Louden’s perspective. He will recount not only stories of those he heard crying for help and from despair, but also the many lives that were saved and people served because of the collaborative front line relief efforts.

Major Louden will be available for interviews to the media after the event is over. If your medium would like to arrange an interview with Major Louden, please call Jacquie Williams, Resource and Media Specialist at 278-1551.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 91 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyleecounty.org.