Before, During and After: Salvation Army Supports Vulnerable People Year-Round

When a hurricane threatens Bermuda, the Salvation Army is perfectly poised to assist the island’s homeless population – because supporting our most vulnerable individuals is what the organisation does year-round.

Captain Dennis Maybury, left, with Major Cathy Simms and Lieutenant Lester Ward Photograph by Duncan Hall When the wind blows, the Army’s long-established relationships with homeless people mean they can provide shelter, food, guidance and comfort from a place of trust.

Major Cathy Simms, the area commander, said: “This is the value of what we do. Because we are in a relationship with this population and these most vulnerable people regularly, we can often call them by name – we are engaging with them on a regular basis.

“So, there’s a relationship established, there’s trust established and so they know that we advocate for their well-being and their safety. They know that, and so we have an opportunity to be able to provide this kind of care because we already have a connection with them on a regular basis because we serve them every single day.”

Year-round, the Army operates three food banks, a feeding programme on North Street in Pembroke that serves a hot meal to 125 people five days a week, and a food truck out of the Harbour Light facility on King Street, Hamilton, that provides dinner to between 40 and 80 people, six days a week.

The Army also operates the Harbour Light ten-bed residential programme that facilitates addiction recovery and continues to provide supportive services for individuals upon completion of the programme; a 30-bed emergency housing and transitional housing night shelter, operated in partnership with the Bermuda Government; and another facility that houses clients to help them develop life skills. 

STEPPING UP IN A STORM

Before and during a hurricane, the Army takes on additional responsibilities as a member of the island’s Emergency Measures Organisation.

When Government determines that an impending storm warrants the opening of its emergency shelter at CedarBridge Academy, the Army takes on the task of providing meals for all who ride out the storm there. Other groups, including the Bermuda Red Cross, also provide various services at the shelter.

Army volunteers purchase food based on the number of people expected and deliver it to the shelter.

Major Simms said: “Carol McDowall is our key person. She’s a volunteer from North Street and she will work in conjunction with Kellie Edwards, our family services director for our food bank in Hamilton. And together, Carol will prepare the menus with her team. She’ll pull together a group of individuals that will prepare meals for that period that we’re in shelter.” 

SELFLESS INDIVIDUALS

The six to eight army volunteers who assist with food preparation at the shelter remain locked in at the venue, sleeping on cots, until the all-clear is given once the storm has passed and it is safe to leave.

Finding those volunteers can be difficult.

“I think a lot of that is because the people we need to volunteer, they want to be home with their families,” Major Simms said.

“They want to be looking after their homes. They may have pets at home that they can’t leave or don’t want to leave and it’s a commitment because you’re locked in for the whole duration of the storm. It’s not like you can go home and check on things.

“Finding people that are willing to give up that kind of time, and just to even leave their own homes and their own families to be able to commit to serving others in this kind of experience in this time, is a bit of a challenge. That is the challenging piece, it’s always finding enough volunteers.” 

SUPPORTING – WHATEVER THE WEATHER
Meanwhile, the year-round facilities offered by the Army continue to operate.

Lieutenant Lester Ward, the Army’s executive director of community services ministries, leads its emergency disaster services.

He said: “The Harbour Light and the emergency and transitional housing remain in place unless the storm and the level of hurricane is determined to be a much higher level. Then we make a decision on whether we take the clients to CedarBridge.

“Our emergency and transitional housing has been confirmed to be safe during a hurricane, especially with our new transitional housing, which are the shipping containers that are down there.

“However, it’s a low-lying area, and there’s a creek close by which potentially, depending on the level of rains, could cause a floodplain concern. And we don’t want to be moving people or trying to move people when the hurricane is actually in place. So, depending on the level which the EMO would determine, then we determine what’s the best safety measures we need to put in place for all parties involved.”

Leading up to the storm, Army employee Maxwell Assing will take the staff van and connect with the homeless individuals that he encounters regularly on the soup run.

Major Simms said: “Maxwell knows the individuals, he knows where they’re at, he has a relationship with them. He’s out there five days a week with the soup truck, and he’s engaging with them on a regular basis.

“There’s a relationship already established, so whenever there is a storm, a pending storm, he will be out there connecting with them and ensuring that if they need transportation to the centre, he will take them there and he’ll also bring them back afterwards.”

IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL 
Established in 1865, the Army operates in 133 countries, constantly providing services to vulnerable populations.

Major Simms said: “Whenever there is an emergency, it’s why the Army can mobilise very quickly and why they can engage on the front lines, providing the necessary support systems because our structures are already in place. We’re already there, we’re already serving, we’re already providing care 365 days a year.

“We don’t just come in for an emergency. We’re there for the long haul. We’re there even after the emergency has passed, continuing to give care and support.”

Lieutenant Ward added: “Before, during and after.”

Story Duncan Hall

To learn more, visit the Royal Gazette Hurricane Survival Week 5