In times of need
It’s often said that The Salvation Army has a ministry of “presence” – of being there in times of need. With Lismore prone to flooding, The Salvation Army has always had an active Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) team – well before it was officially named such.
The floods of 1945 saw the local Lismore Salvation Army officers swimming from house to house to offer milk and supplies!
The corps (church) history book records on 20 February 1954, the most disastrous flood in the history of Lismore. Water five feet in the hall. Salvationists sprung into action, preparing and serving nearly 200 meals per day and distributing aid and donated bedding and clothing for the next three months. The relief effort was so great, that Lismore Salvation Army actually went into debt, spending and delivering 1000 pounds of groceries, two tons of apples, 25 tons of clothing, 400 new blankets, 100 new beddings and 50 second hand, 100 pounds on new clothing and 50 pounds on new boots.
Today, The Salvation Army in Lismore operates an emergency trailer, providing food during times of need for those affected by disaster, and emergency services personnel who attend disaster incidents.
