Supporting A Gulf War Veteran
Recently, The Salvation Army of Evansville in Indiana helped a veteran and his family receive the support they needed following the death of his wife due to Covid-19. The father was struggling to care for his two teenage children when his sales commission began decreasing due to the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic.
A Gulf War Veteran, he tried to make ends meet by selling the family’s possessions but quickly realized it was not enough. With support from a Salvation Army caseworker, they were accepted into a program that provided immediate assistance and included help with rent, food, and an introduction to several long-term opportunities to help sustain the family.
“We were able to do intensive casework with the father and got him enrolled in programs he didn’t know existed,” said Major Mark Turner of the Salvation Army of Evansville. “First, we connected him to the Veteran’s Administration, which offset the cost of one child’s college tuition, and then we reached out to the local American Legion and VFW which provided additional supportive services. What an honor to help turn things around at a time when they were so quickly losing everything.”
Determined to give them hope and lift their spirits this holiday season, The Salvation Army also enrolled the family in their annual Christmas program. A local business “adopted” them and will be providing gifts for each member—something they were prepared to do without this year.