They are a familiar sight during the holiday season but the Salvation Army has played a major role in helping New Jersey recover from Hurricane Sandy. NJ Today Managing Editor Mike Schneider sat down with Major Edgar George, Jr., Divisional Secretary of the NJ Salvation Army, to discuss the organization’s role in hurricane recovery efforts.

Even before Sandy made landfall, George says the Salvation Army set up feeding sites and shelters, and continued to do so from the time Sandy hit the state.

“We had as many as 12 mobile canteens going across the state of New Jersey, feeding from those locations as well as bringing them to other locations to take care of those folks who were displaced.”

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In providing assistance, George says the Salvation Army coordinates efforts with other agencies and city and state officials.

“They were the ones directing us to where the largest need was,” he said. “Also, in some of those areas, where not to go, because it was critical and dangerous so we would have to wait kind of on the out skirts until we were allowed to go into those areas and do what we do.”

According to George, the need was tremendous, with over 190,000 meals served. In addition to food and shelter, the organization provided cleanup kits, personal hygiene kits, clothing, blankets and more.

While they are most visible during the holidays, they have “Salvation Army Community Centers” throughout the country, offering a variety of assistance and community programs for children, parents and seniors.

“In those units, you can also go and receive utility assistance, rental assistance, certainly food is an ongoing need and that is given out from those centers,” said George. “We have as many as 137 what we call ‘service units.’ You wouldn’t necessarily see a ‘Salvation Army’ shingle hanging out, perhaps, but it’s folks that work in other aspects in the community and have access to Salvation Army monies and Salvation Army resources to help in those communities where you don’t find a Salvation Army building.

To fund its programs and services, George says the Salvation Army competes for public dollars, but that most of the funding comes from local donors, citing the efforts of bell ringers and donations during Christmas time. “But we have a lot of folks that support us through a donation in the mail or dropping it off at one of the Salvation Armys.”

But financial support is always an issue because there is always a need, he says.

“I think that we can never have enough money. Because there’s always something else, some other service that we can proved, so any help is always appreciated.”