This past Wednesday, Major Mary Welch had to spend her birthday in a different way than she likely planned. The Salvation Army serving Marengo county and five other Black belt cities sent her to aid people in Hattiesburg and Gulf Port Miss., in anticipation of Hurricane Isaac.

Major Steve Welch, core officer for the Blackbelt cities and Mary’s husband said he spoke with her on Wednesday and she said there were strong winds.

“She’s helping on the inside with financial and administrative work,” he said. “There are others there providing food and spiritual help.”

The Salvation Army organization has a Christian-focused mission to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they are offering prayer to those during this time.

Hurricane Issac was downgraded to a tropical storm Wednesday and the threat from the storm was mainly the flood waters it poured on cities along the Gulf.

“My wife could be there for as long as two weeks and then some more representatives will come and rotate out with the ones there,” he said.

He said The Salvation Army has deployed people from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi and they will be there however long they are needed.

“All of our officers are able to assist people with spiritual needs,” he said.

Mary Welch drove the disaster truck down to Hattiesburg where she was placed first and later in the week she moved to Gulf Port. The truck can be used for feeding those in need.

The Welchs both assist with helping The Salvation Army store here in Demopolis with their needs as well as serving the area as well. Their office is headquartered in Selma.

In addition to feeding, The Salvation Army is prepared to provide: clean-up kits containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies, hygiene kits, drinking water, shower units and first-aid supplies.

“Our people are down there praying with people during this hard time,” he said. “That’s what our organization is about – presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”