Salvation Army’s Crisis Response kitchen truck and new cargo trailer

Prince George, BC –  A long-time volunteer with the Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services is thrilled with a new cargo trailer that has just become part of the agency’s Crisis Response Unit.

Officially unveiled on Friday, the trailer can store up to 4,000 pounds of supplies and equipment, has a full washroom facility, the ability to sleep 10 people, and accomodate up to 12 for a meal.

Cindy Wolfe recalls being called out several years ago to support a search effort underway in the bush outside of Dawson Creek.  "When I was first arriving on-site where we were going to set up, there was no washroom facility, no place to wash your hands or anything like that." 

"There were no sleeping facilities, so I had to drive an hour-and-a-half back into Dawson Creek every night to sleep, as well as get more propane and water," she says.  "Then I had to drive back every morning – we were feeding 150 people three meals per day, so that added three hours onto our already long day."  It took four days for a porta-potty to arrive.

Wolfe says the new trailer will make difficult situations just that much easier.  Wolfe’s husband, Ken, coordinates the Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services volulnteers.  The husband and wife are helping to train 30 new recruits this weekend to help out when disaster strikes.  The Wolfes keep the Crisis Response Unit stocked with everything but fresh produce and like to be ready to go within an hour of receiving a call out.

The unit will be used to support the entire northern region from Williams Lake to the Yukon border, and from the Alberta border to Smithers.  With trained EDS volunteers in several communities, the Wolfes would drive the unit to the scene of the emergency and area volunteers would provide the support services.