Volunteers provide shelter for Sunderland residents affected by power outage

From 11 am to 8 pm on 14 November 2018, The Salvation Army’s Sunderland Millfield church on Rutland Street (SR4 6HX) has been supporting its community as a result of a power outage in the area. They will also be providing breakfast from 7.15 am on 15 November and be open throughout the day. The Salvation Army’s emergency response unit has also been based on site providing refreshments to workers tackling the issue, and working with the Red Cross.

Salvation Army volunteers served up drinks and meals to local residents who were without heating and lighting in their homes as a result of the outage. They also put on films for the children and provided access to videogames.

Majors Peter and Karen Clark are the ministers at Sunderland Millfield Salvation Army and brought together a team of volunteers to provide refreshments and support to those affected from the corps.

Major Peter Clark said: “Our divisional emergency response team received a call from Sunderland Council at 10 am asking if we could open up our building as a rest centre to the community while the power company worked to resolve the issue. It’s a privilege for us to be able to assist in this way, offering people a safe warm space while they’re waiting to return home.

“It’s not unusual to find our building open to our community in this way, every day we encourage people to drop in and take part in the activities on offer or to perhaps find some calm in the middle of life’s storms over a cup of tea.”

Sunderland Millfield Salvation Army runs a number of activities for the community, including a youth club, Silver Screen film club for people who are older or isolated, basic digital skills classes, parent-and-toddler group and a charity shop. Across the UK, The Salvation Army also offers support in emergency response and disaster situations: our teams responded to the Manchester Arena bombing, the Croydon tram crash and the Grenfell Tower fire, as well as to numerous local incidents, such as the recent Deptford fire in Sunderland.

The Salvation Army’s emergency response vehicles attend between 170-200 call-outs per year.