The Salvation Army has obtained a grant that expires in June for families who remain in need.
"[The Salvation Army] has been working with individuals all throughout Bartow County, especially those that didn't have any type of insurance on their property or anything to help them out to rebuild their lives and put them back together," Lt. Michelle Wilson, corps officer in the Bartow office, said. "There was a 90-year-old lady that lost everything and had no family and we were able to help her buy supplies and put the home back together."
Throughout the southern region, the Salvation Army delivered more than 13,000 meals, 25,000 cold drink, 5,000 snacks, 1,000 articles of clothing, 191 clean-up kits and assisted 200 people with spiritual care and more than 850 people with financial assistance vouchers.
"[We] know there are still people out there who need assistance," Wilson said. "I've been taking several phone calls. Just in the last month I have probably signed off on six to 10 cases of people who are still needing assistance."
The United Way of Bartow County also has discovered a way to provide long-term assistance to victims while preparing for future disasters. A relief fund has been established for such cases in an effort to decrease the financial stress when needs arise.
"We were lucky enough that we surpassed our goal for this year and we were able to take funds and start a disaster relief fund to add to what we had from last year that people had designated to disaster relief," Brenda Moorehouse, president of Bartow's United Way, said.
For more information on relief efforts by the Salvation Army, visit www.salvationarmygeorgia.org, and for more information on how to receive assistance, call 770-387-9955.