Fargo Salvation Army is one man’s ‘sanctuary’ (video)
For Sean Briggs, a day at The Salvation Army in Fargo, N.D., starts out with a morning meal. He’s been coming almost every day since he set foot in Fargo about 20 years ago.
“I feel some type of peace here,” explained Briggs, 43. “Almost like a sanctuary.”
Once you hear about Briggs’ past, it’s easy to understand why he finds a sense of security at The Salvation Army.
A native of Virginia, near Norfolk, he grew up in what he calls “the projects.” He was raised in a family with six brothers and three sisters. His childhood home was filled with chaos. In some ways, it still is.
“It’s been rough – my brother got killed a couple of years ago and that right there, it changed everything,” explained Briggs. “It changed me.”
No matter how hard he tried to escape Virginia, his brother’s death is a reminder that his hometown feels a lot closer despite the miles of separation. The past he left behind seemingly creeped into his present.
Salvation Army is a support system
Since his brother’s death, The Salvation Army has helped Briggs cope with the loss, reminding him that he chose a different path. Unlike many of his peers, he graduated high school. He went on to learn the welding trade and moved away for a purpose.
Briggs said he always felt different, as if something “more” was in store for him.
The Salvation Army was one of his first stops in North Dakota. Growing up with very little, he was familiar with the Army’s programs and services.
“They’ve helped me out a lot,”Briggs said. “I’m a welder and they’ve helped me acquire equipment and things of that nature to improve my skills. I appreciate that.”
Despite the help, he’s had his shares of ups and downs and more recently is once again homeless. In the past, without the support of The Salvation Army and the people he’s met in Fargo, this would have sent him into a downward spiral.
That’s not the case this time around.
Perseverance
“I’ve been through a lot, but it’ll get better, I’m not going to give up,” said Briggs.
Programs and services at Fargo’s Salvation Army, like a good breakfast to start the day and people to talk to about life’s challenges, have provided Briggs with a solid foundation. The fellowship and all of the support he’s received over the years are what keeps him coming back and what drives him to keep on a positive path.
The Salvation Army is his safety net.
“I feel safe here. I can come and eat and have a nice cooked meal, especially during the winter when the weather is brutal,” Briggs explained. “This place is a safe haven.”
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