Yuma volunteers take part in Gila Bend flooding relief efforts

GILA BEND, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - It's been nearly a week after major flooding in Gila Bend took the lives of two residents and leaving many others displaced. Residents in the small town are still in the thick of recovery efforts.

Volunteers are coming from all over including a few from Yuma. They’re here to assist in feeding and providing resources to locals.

Pictures show the damage left behind after a massive monsoon storm ripped thru the small town that we're all familiar with - about 100 miles east of Yuma.

Some are making their way out to help, like Larry Kalas, who volunteers with the American Red Cross.

"It’s pretty amazing when you look around it’s hard to imagine there were 5-6 feet of water on these buildings when it was going on. All you can see now is the mud lines and debris," he said. Helping with cleaning supplies and tools and equipment, passing on food and meals, and plugging whatever gaps need to be need to be taken care of while we're here to help the people the best we can," Kalas added.

The Salvation Army is also on site. Lt. Johnathan Herzog is new to the Yuma area, but that didn’t stop him from packing up and heading east.

“Wherever needs exist. That's what we do in the Salvation Army, our mission is really twofold. It's to meet your need wherever that exists, in Jesus' name without discrimination,” Lt. Herzog explained.

Volunteers set up a canteen outside of Gila Bend High School, where they prep more than 100 meals, for lunch and dinner.

“One of the greatest things is to provide those people who have been affected by these floods, and the first responders - they're hungry, they're working really hard,” he explained.

In the high school gymnasium, a make-shift store, allowing residents to grab whatever they may need to get thru the hardship. Residents are mostly in need of shovels and rakes. Any equipment to clean up the devastation that rocked this town.

“We're pleased to be able to do more. All of that is able to happen because of will generous community members who have come alongside the Salvation Army,” the lieutenant added.

To donate to The Salvation Army visit the local Yuma chapter site here. You can even drop off unused equipment at the local Salvation Army facility at 454 W Catalina Dr., Yuma, Arizona 85364.

The American Red Cross is also accepting donations via phone at 1-800-842-7349.