Donations in Action: Nobody immune to hardship

A woman at our food shelf stopped me after she finished bagging her groceries. She shared that she made decent money as a government financial professional, yet her income was still not enough to support her two kids and their medical situation. She started to cry, telling me that she knew about food shelves but didn’t think a person like her should have to use one. I told her that everybody is welcome to use the food shelf because nobody is immune to going through tough times. A tear rolled down her face as she explained how happy she was to be treated with such dignity and respect. She felt welcomed and had overcome her embarrassment. She said she was very glad that The Salvation Army existed and would be forever thankful for our services.

While walking into the food shelf room, I asked the woman I was escorting, “How are you doing today?” She replied, “Oh, I’m fine. But I’m a little stressed about my gas bill.” She didn’t realize that in addition to our food shelf, The Salvation Army also offers utility assistance, which includes both direct financial help and also counseling. I asked the woman how much she was paying for natural gas. She said $155 a month. That was way too high for her, so I asked if I could call her gas company. I found out that the woman’s monthly income qualified her to enroll in a gas affordability program. A few minutes later, I told her what her new monthly bill would be: $72. As soon as I said that number, the woman threw up her hands in joy and relief. She was beyond thankful.

A male resident of Salvation Army HOPE Harbor was about to move out of the supportive housing facility after living there since 2012. He and his cousin were moving to Alaska, where they had secured jobs and housing. When I met with him before he left, he said The Salvation Army had restored his faith in charities. In addition to housing, he was thankful for receiving financial assistance that allowed him to take a sign language class. He appreciated that the only thing The Salvation Army ever asked of him was to respect himself and others. He said that although there were struggles along the way, HOPE Harbor was the safest and most comfortable place he had ever lived. He ended our meeting saying that although he’d probably never see me again, he would always remember the kindness I showed him.

Incredible stories, in four sentences or less.  

• A woman came to us in shock – she’d been displaced by a fire and had no place to go, having stayed in a hotel the past two nights. We were able to put her up in the same hotel for three more nights, giving her time to create a plan of action. When I told her she didn’t have to leave the hotel, she was so thankful and happy. I believe we gave her hope.
• A Salvation Army housing manager helped a woman maintain sobriety, and find and keep a part-time job. The support and encouragement she received also helped her move forward with her goal of losing weight. To her delight, she had to go down two sizes to find new work clothes that fit.
• A woman who lives in Salvation Army housing was petrified of going to the dentist because she had not seen one in years and did not have adequate insurance. A Salvation Army caseworker was determined to help, finding the woman a free clinic at which to get a cleaning. The caseworker drove her there twice – once for paperwork, once for the cleaning.
• A women we’ve been assisting through the U.S. government’s Shelter Plus Care program had previously struggled with addiction and legal problems. We’re currently helping guide her through college as she pursues an education to become a paralegal. After recently completing her first term, she received all A’s and B’s. She is excited to work in a profession that will allow her to help other people who’ve struggled as she has.
• It is a common story – medical issues lead to loss of work and a pile of unpaid bills. So it went for a single mom who was behind on her rent after having eye surgery. We kicked in $650 to get her caught up, and also worked with her landlord to create a payment plan for the future. The woman was grateful.