Former Salvation Army Client Offers Others Hope and Assistance

Every day Kellie Edwards, family services coordinator at The Salvation Army’s North Street Citadel in Bermuda, comes to work and does her best to help people through times of despair.. What some might not know, is that Kellie was once the recipient of the assistance she now provides.

For many years, Kellie dealt with addiction and experienced homelessness. As she navigated through life’s struggles, she found The Salvation Army to be a place that she could trust for her basic needs.

“During my active addiction, I would be in line for their feeding program or I would go to the thrift store for clothes.”

“During my active addiction, I would be in line for their feeding program or I would go to the thrift store for clothes,” Kellie shares. “Being on the streets and estranged from my family, that was all the help that I knew.”

Kellie describes this period of her life as a time when her main goal was survival. She credits the Army with helping her stay alive.

 A New Life

 In 2009, Kellie overcame addiction. Looking to start her new life, she again turned to The Salvation Army. However, this time wanting to help.

“I started volunteering for the Christmas program. Then after Christmas, I continued volunteering at the food bank,” Kellie says.

At that time, Kellie was going through the 12-step addiction recovery process. While she understood the importance of patience and self-improvement, she started feeling anxious about finding a job. Fortunately, the perfect opportunity came her way soon after.

Kellie was offered a job with The Salvation Army’s family services team. Initially, she packed  hampers and helped with their distribution during the Christmas season. Her work ethic over the years earned her promotions.

“The Salvation Army gave me the opportunity to give back to my community.”

In 2018, she took on the role of family services coordinator, managing the food bank’s operations at the same location that assisted her.

“The Salvation Army gave me the opportunity to give back to my community, the same community that I was part of,” she says.

 A Second Chance

During her journey with The Salvation Army, Kellie remembers a pivotal moment when she was reassured that she could rely on her Army friends. In 2011, she relapsed for a day and, thinking she had made an irreparable mistake, she believed she would lose her job. Instead, she received support, particularly from her manager.

“He prayed with me and encouraged me to get back on track. By Tuesday, I was working again. I had my whole support system loving and encouraging me,” Kellie remembers

This second chance spurred her on to where she is today.

 Inspiring Others

 In her current role, Kellie encounters familiar faces from her challenging years, and many of them recognize her. This allows Kellie to use her experience to help others and serves as an inspiration to some clients.

“I’ve lived the life of most of the clients who come to me. I have been in their shoes, so I know what it is like. I can relate to what they are going through,” she says.

“I always explain that The Salvation Army does more than just give out a bag of groceries or a hot meal.”

When assisting clients, Kellie likes to follow a holistic approach that goes beyond offering basic support.

“I always explain that The Salvation Army does more than just give out a bag of groceries or a hot meal.” She is always happy to talk to clients, get to know them, give them advice, and refer them to programs that might be able to help them.

Today, Kellie looks back gratefully at the assistance and opportunity that she received. She now finds herself in a position where she enjoys doing what she loves and is able to take pleasure from seeing clients progress and no longer needing the Army’s services.

“I feel good to be able to help people. It is my human nature, even away from work,” Kellie adds.

By Juan Romero