Madison1118web

Giving People Hope
Erin Williams
After sitting down at the large conference table in
the Jackson administrative building of The Salvation Army,
I found that, at first impression, Major Karen Lyle had a firm
handshake and a warm smile.
“I apologize,” said Major Karen, after she checked her
phone a couple times. “We’re tracking Hurricane Florence
and her potential landfall as we speak.”
Although the Jackson location already had their canteen
prepared, another mobile unit was stocked with enough
pre-portioned meals to feed 5,000-7,000 people three
meals a day, for three days. It was stationed in Charlotte at
the speedway, and Major Karen was waiting to hear word
on when she and her husband Robert, who is also a major at
the Jackson branch, would be called to go serve.
“It’s likely that Robert will be the first to go, then I’ll go
next,” said Major Karen. “We serve 14 days each and our duties
during that time can range from immediate emergency
response, to even riding around with FEMA to see if homes
are inhabitable. We have to be prepared to help in any way
that we can.”
As a couple who has assisted with numerous natural
disasters over the years–Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane
Harvey, and Hurricane Floyd, to name a few–they have
weathered through many storms, both literally and figuratively,
during their lives and careers with The Salvation Army.
Majors Lyle received orders that they would be moving
to Jackson and working at the Jackson branch on June 18.
They have both spent their decades-long careers serving in
10 • November 2018