Helping others
With a bag of groceries and a dish of hope
By Isabelle Southcott
When Rick first met Joe (not his real name) he was sleeping in his van and hadn't eaten in two days.
"He was afraid to ask for help," says Captain Rick Robins of the Salvation Army. "But out of desperation, he called the Salvation Army."
Making that call was difficult for Joe. He'd never had to ask anyone for food or shelter before. A sudden change in circumstances had left him without a place to live and no money.
"A lot of times when we meet people they are hungry and want food but we soon realize there are other things going on too."
Captain Jennifer Robins remembers what happened next. "It went from hello, how are you doing to two hours later. Rick heard his story about how he ended up this way and talked about how he could move forward."
When Joe came to the Salvation Army he felt like all hope was lost.
"After two hours, he felt better. We put together a plan with him. He came with nothing and left with hope," says Rick.
Ask for help
Joe isn't the only person who has had a hard time asking for help. There are many. Some drive by for days, too uncomfortable to come in. Others never do.
Rick and Jennifer understand only too well how hard it is to walk through those doors and ask for help. At one time, when they lived in Lloydminster and Rick was hurt in an accident, they too were on the receiving end.
Putting food on the table can be challenging. Paying the rent, and other bills is often enough to send someone struggling over the edge.
When life gives you more than you can handle, don't give up, says Rick. "We can help."
The Salvation Army has a variety of programs to nourish the body and soul.
Increasing need
"We don't believe in just being a hand out. We're a hand up. In the four and a half years that the Robins have been here they've seen the need climb and climb. When they first came, a busy day would be 25 clients needing help. Last Monday, they had 74.
"There are a lot more people coming through. We don't want people to be embarrassed about coming here... that's what we are here for," says Jennifer.
Sometimes people just need help to get back on their feet. And sometimes they come back to let Rick and Jennifer know how they're doing.
A rusty old pot
"One day a lady came in here with nothing at all to cook in," says Jennifer. "All we had was a rusty old pot and so we gave it to her. She took it home and used it because it was all she had."
Later that same lady came back to see Rick and Jennifer. She was doing much better and she took them to her home so they could see for themselves. "It was nicely furnished and she was happy. She had new pots but she said 'I'll never get rid of that rusty old pot because it reminds me of how things used to be.'"
For Rick and Jennifer, knowing that they've made a difference in someone's life is the best gift of all.
How to help
You too can make a difference.
Last month, the Salvation Army put on a food drive to meet the increased need. "The community support, as always, was awesome," says Jennifer. But more donations are needed to fill hampers for December. Help and donations are needed for the Christmas kettle campaign.
Those who volunteer for the Salvation Army are awesome for without them it would be impossible to run programs like the Wednesday soup kitchen or Monday and Friday hamper program or the Christmas kettle campaign.
The door at the Salvation Army is open to everyone. So is the Community Christmas Dinner put on by the Salvation Army on December 19 at the Carlson Community Club. The evening, which gets underway at 5 pm, is a wonderful coming together of people of all ages with the community band and carols. "This is Christmas dinner for a lot of people who don't have any family here," says Rick.
The dinner is free but reservations are needed. Please call 604 485-6067 to book a spot at the dinner or to volunteer.
