Representatives from both the Rome Salvation Army and Utica Salvation Army – with support from The Salvation Army’s Empire State Divisional Headquarters – have been providing food, water, hygiene items, and spiritual and emotional support, to those impacted after what has now been confirmed by The National Weather Service as a tornado that touched down in Rome on Tuesday afternoon.

“In the aftermath of such a destructive disaster, The Salvation Army, along with its community partners, are here to help and support those impacted in any way that we can,” said Captain Ted Tressler of The Salvation Army of Rome. “So many of our neighbors are in desperate need for hope right now as they have lost everything in this storm.”

With basic resources at a premium and thousands without power including The Salvation Army of Rome’s service center, Captain Kelly Ross of the Salvation Army of Utica realized the severity of the situation. She and two volunteers immediately loaded her vehicle with food and supplies and drove the twenty miles to Rome to help in any way that they could.

“The Salvation Army’s mission is to meet human needs without discrimination, and I knew there were going to be a lot of families and individuals that needed our immediate assistance,” Captain Ross said. “It’s just devastating.”

The Salvation Army has been on the ground ready to serve before and after Tuesday’s storm and destructive aftermath. Community partners including Walmart, Lowe’s, and The Food Bank of Central New York have already made generous donations to The Salvation Army to help in the first hours of recovery.

“The need is great, and will continue to be great,” added Captain Tressler. “There is still plenty of help needed in the days and weeks to come as our community tries to come to terms with what has happened.”

Donations to The Salvation Army’s relief efforts in Rome can be made by texting HelpRome to 31333 or by visiting give.salvationarmy.org/HelpRome and 100% of these donations stay in Rome and will be used to provide much-needed assistance for the disaster relief effort only.

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