When hundreds of truckers and individuals were suddenly stranded at the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border due to protests, Salvation Army corps in Truro and Springhill, N.S., stepped up to provide food, hydration and emotional and spiritual care.

The protests began at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22. By Wednesday morning, word was spreading that hundreds of people were held up at the provincial border with no choice but to wait. While many were redirected to the town of Amherst, N.S., others were waiting on the highway with no access to food or water.

Learning this, The Salvation Army leapt into action. Each location began by preparing sandwiches—volunteers in Truro prepared more than 500, while volunteers in Springhill prepared 250. They packed the sandwiches into bagged lunches which also included granola bars, sweet treats and bottled water.

A Salvation Army volunteer offers a bottle of water to a trucker

“The volunteers did an exceptional job,” explains Jan Keats, emergency disaster services co-ordinator, Maritime Division. “People were in urgent need of food, and the hard work of the volunteers made it possible for us to serve.”

When they arrived on site, one team began distributing the lunches to those who were detoured into the town, while the other team hit the highway and served those waiting on the side of the road.

“It’s so important to volunteer during these times,” explains Beverly Sharpe, a Salvation Army volunteer who was on site. “Everyone really appreciates us coming out here today. It’s really fulfilling.”

In just a few hours, hundreds were served. Each lunch was met with a smile and words of appreciation by the stranded travellers who felt as if they had been forgotten about until The Salvation Army arrived.

“It’s often said ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ but it takes an Army to care for a community,” explains Lieutenant Matthew Reid, corps officer in Truro. “That’s what happened here today; hearing about the need, The Salvation Army engaged to ensure hope was given.”