'Be the Light' story series: Fargo family weathers life’s storms
Be the Light is a story series highlighting people in Minnesota and North Dakota whose lives are brighter thanks to your support of The Salvation Army Northern Division. This Christmas season, you can Be the Light in somebody’s life by giving a donation, signing up to volunteer, or ringing bells at a Red Kettle.
Miranda and Will are poster children for Americans who do their best but still have trouble making ends meet. The couple from Fargo, N.D. has been together for nearly 15 years and celebrated the birth of their firstborn child in late 2023.
The family’s inability to get ahead stems from a back injury Will sustained. He has undergone multiple surgeries and cannot work full-time, receiving disability payments that are not enough to live on. He earns extra money by donating plasma and working part-time as much as his body will allow.
Miranda is a stay-at-home mom. She contributes to the family’s finances by working temp jobs whenever she can, such as helping clean the Fargo Dome after concerts.
Miranda and Will are among the estimated 78 percent of Americans who live paycheck to paycheck and are one unexpected bill away from financial crisis.
Thanks to your gifts, Miranda and Will are staying afloat.
In January, the couple joined Salvation Army Pathway of Hope, a long-term mentoring program for families facing hardship. Families in Pathway of Hope meet regularly with Salvation Army caseworkers who offer encouragement, structure and resources. The program is offered at Salvation Army locations locally and nationwide.
Through Pathway of Hope, Miranda and Will received budgeting advice and a host of tangible resources, such as baby supplies, clothing, and gas cards. This support helped the couple stay in their apartment and sign another one-year lease.
“We will forever be grateful to the people who donate,” said Miranda, choking back tears. “We are real people you’ve affected. This is real life, not a Hallmark story.”
Added Will: “We are doing our best to be self-sufficient, but it’s nice to know The Salvation Army is there as a lifeboat when we need it.”
The couple’s caseworker, Sarah Akin (pictured), is proud to serve them.
“When I first met Miranda and Will, their life was sink-or-swim,” Sarah said. “Thanks to the support of our donors, this wonderful family is headed toward a brighter future.”
This Christmas season, you can Be the Light in somebody’s life by providing food, shelter and care for people in need. Join us today by giving a donation, signing up to volunteer, or ringing bells at a Red Kettle.