Donations in Action: Jesus, take the wheel
Many of the people The Salvation Army serves are in the middle of crazy, unpredictable circumstances. Their stories can be heartbreaking, uplifting, and everything in between.
Here are some of their stories, submitted by Salvation Army social workers and caseworkers from across Minnesota and North Dakota. Out of respect for the people involved, we are retelling the stories without using names.
If you have ever wondered how The Salvation Army uses your donations, here are some good examples:
Jesus, take the wheel
A gentleman in his 50s pulled up riding a motorcycle, dressed in black, with tattoos covering both his arms. He looked like he’d had a tough life.
To our surprise, he opened the door and greeted us with a warm “Hello!” He’d stopped by to pick up two Bibles – one for himself, and one for his 2-year-old son.
The man was in recovery. He’d decided to put 40 years of rough living behind him for the sake of himself and his son.
The man thanked us for the Bibles. He said he was excited to read them to his son and to the people he meets at local Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. He said he often gives people rides to these meetings on his motorcycle – anything he can do to help people walk away from their addictions.
Through the help of Jesus Christ, I believe this man will succeed in overcoming his addictions – because he has allowed Jesus to take the wheel.
No shoes, no shirt – no problem
I single mother came to us in need of shoes and clothes for her two young children. Her kids had been walking around barefoot, wearing clothes that did not fit.
The woman began to sob. She explained that she lived out of state and that her kids had been in Minnesota for visitation with their father – who had committed suicide several days prior.
The woman had dropped everything to get to Minnesota as fast as she could. In doing so, she forgot to pack clothes for herself and her kids. She was broke, with no money to get herself and her kids back home.
We consoled the woman and assured her that everything would be OK. Then we took her to a Salvation Army Store and let her pick out clothes and shoes for herself and her kids. She was thankful for the help amid her terrible circumstances.
Homelessness averted
A single father in his 40s came to us requesting assistance with his utility deposit. He and his son had just moved to northern Minnesota from a different state. Moving expenses had depleted his funds, and the utility expense was more than he had anticipated.
The situation was an emergency. If the man could not get the utilities put in his name, he would be forced to move out of his newly acquired rental, leaving him and his son homeless.
Thankfully, The Salvation Army offers emergency utility assistance for situations just like this. We helped the man pay the remainder of the utility deposit that he could not afford. He and his son were grateful for the assistance and the chance to start their new lives on a positive note.
Better late than never
A female resident of a Salvation Army low-income housing facility has been working as a home health aide for many years, and her employer recently offered her the opportunity to begin a 401(k) retirement savings plan.
Previously, this woman had not participated in any type of retirement savings plan. We encouraged her to take advantage of her employer's offer. She agreed, deciding it was an important step to take now in her 50s. She signed up and will now begin contributing to her retirement fund.
It is wonderful to see one of our residents planning for and taking charge of her future.
The Salvation Army Northern Division pledges to do the most good with your gifts of time and money, with 81 cents of every dollar going directly to services. Join us by volunteering or making a donation to support your local community. Stay current on how The Salvation Army is changing lives in Minnesota and North Dakota by signing up for our e-Newsletters.