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From The Salvation Army of Washington

WINDSOR — As Capt. Teresa Bush picked her way through a field in Windsor, the first thing she noticed were the toys: a bicycle hanging at the top of a tree; stuffed animals strewn across a field; playthings scattered among the remnants of the houses that once held them — all evidence of the lives of the children who lived in the neighborhood devastated by the tornado from Tropical Storm Isaias. She knew The Salvation Army had to do something.

“My heart is breaking for the children. Children have been through so much this year. Their schools closed abruptly. They have to social distance from their friends. Their world has changed and during this change, their playthings became beloved friends. Because of this tornado, they have lost those, too,” Bush said.

She came up with a plan.

“This is what we do every year at Christmas — provide toys for children. Why can’t we extend this to our disaster work?” she asked.

Currently, The Salvation Army of Washington is working with partners to help families replace necessities like furniture, clothing and household goods. As community caseworkers meet with families to assess their needs, they will also gather information about the children in the family, including favorite toys and interests. Employees and volunteers at The Salvation Army will pull together the toys and deliver them to the children.

“We are helping the littlest survivors, one toy at a time,” Bush added.

Financial donations to help with recovery efforts may be mailed to The Salvation Army at P.O. Box 877, Washington, NC 27889.

The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.