Staff Writer

As always, the Salvation Army is there wherever and whenever they’re needed.

On Thursday, they will respond to the emergency needs created by the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

The Pike County Salvation Army Service Center will have a truck on the square in Troy between the hours of 9:15 a.m. and 1 p.m Thursday to collect tee shirts and socks to be delivered to workers involved in the recovery and clean up operations at both sites, said Cindy Duke, director of the service center.

"The Salvation Army has been asked to collect tee shirts and socks because there is a great need for both items now and the need will continue for weeks and months," she said. "We have been asked to box the shirts and socks, but we don’t have access to a large number of boxes. So, we are asking those who can to bring their donations boxed. Perhaps, several people can get together and box their donations."

Duke said The Salvation Army will continue to responded to the needs as they arise.

"Right now the need is for tee shirts and socks, but we know the requests will be different in the coming days and weeks. From what I understand, flashlights and batteries are needed, but we have not been asked to begin collecting them. When the request comes, we will involve the community because everyone I know wants to do something to help. This is a national tragedy and it affects all of us. We all want to do what we can to help."

The donations collected Thursday in Troy will be transported by the Pike County Salvation Army truck to Dothan where a tractor trailer will be waiting to load donations from Pike County and other area Salvation Army collection sites for delivery in New York and Washington.