Caring for a Caretaker
Many of the people who come to The Salvation Army for assistance are familiar with struggle and are comfortable reaching out for help when they truly need it, but this is not always the case. When Margaret walked through the door before work last spring, the shame and embarrassment she felt was written all over her face. It was clear that asking for help was very difficult for Margaret, who was used to caring for the people in her life rather than being cared for by others.
Employed in an office, Margaret worked hard each day to pay the bills. She and her husband had shared the financial burden of supporting their large family until an injury left her husband without a job or income. Margaret was facing a situation where she would be financially and physically caring for six people in her household: her injured husband, their two sons, and Margaret’s brother and two in-laws, the three of whom were on disability and unable to work.
Margaret was burnt out, desperate, and ashamed of the fact that she could no longer manage everything on her own. With utility prices increasing across the state, she was unable to pay her bills with just her salary. Asking for help was hard, but she was out of options.
Recognizing how difficult this was for Margaret, The Salvation Army representative comforted her and reassured her that she could get over this hump. When the representative shared that The Salvation Army had enough funds to pay her utility bill, the relief was visible on Margaret’s face. She sat up straighter, as though a physical weight had been lifted off her.
This helping hand was exactly what Margaret needed. After that one-time assistance, she hasn’t needed to return for help with any more bills and has been able to support her family. Margaret’s story reminds us that we all need to be cared for from time to time, even the caretakers.