Spokeswoman Patty Mixdorf says for five days, the Salvation Army provided more than 16-hundred meals to emergency personnel. That job ended Monday night when Iowa Task Force One demobilized and left.
"We are providing 240 meals a day to the rescue workers, and of course, anyone else working down there. If they wanted to come over to our canteen or truck food, we would certainly not turn them away. But we had many restaurants that helped get enough food to serve all these great people."
Those restaurants included Cafe Express Deli, Famous Dave's, and Burger King. Other organizations sent volunteers to help serve the meals including churches and TBK Bank.
Now, Mixdorf says the Salvation Army is re-grouping. "Everyone, not just the [Salvation] Army, we are working with the several families. We started to do case work with and to try and help them find an apartment. But then it starts with home, you know, things for their new apartment. A lot of them don't have anything left."
Finding apartments for displaced tenants of The Davenport apartments will not be easy. Mixdorf says, "It's bad. And we work with the Humility of Mary and Project NOW, and everyone to find places for folks. Right now, the apartment situation is so tight. We pay for the rent for folks that come into our system and really have terrible trouble finding apartment because they're so expensive right now."
Food, hygiene supplies, and clothing vouchers are available at the Salvation Army location at 100 Kirkwood Boulevard in Davenport. Its 4001 North Brady Street location is accepting donations of furniture and other household items, but not mattresses. For tenants who need help finding a new place to live, the Salvation Army number is 563.324.4808. They should also work in coordination with the Red Cross by registering with it as well.
