A Humble Moment Turned Into Hope
When Dave volunteered to hang a sign in downtown Halifax, he didn’t realize the words of a lady experiencing homelessness would give him a newfound appreciation for the blessings in his life.
“As I was hanging the sign, I noticed her on the sidewalk settling into a homemade shelter of blankets and boxes,” says Dave. “She was in her mid-50s and you could tell her whole life is on that concrete. It broke my heart to see.”
After the sign was secure, he went back to his car where his wife, Donna, was waiting. They found a bag of cookies and a few dollars in change. “I went across the street and handed it to her, and she said ‘no thank you, I’m fine’ but I insisted she take it.”
“Comforting us with her words”
As long-time volunteers, the couple knew there was more The Salvation Army could do to help her, so they called the Centre of Hope, which is currently assisting with pop-up shelters in downtown Halifax.
“The Centre is so busy right now, but the girl who answered the phone still wanted to help. She put together a bag with a sandwich, water and fruit,” explains Donna. “We drove over immediately to pick it up.”
As they handed the lady the meal, they told her they wished they could do more to help her. She smiled and said the simple phrase, “I’ll be alright.”
Her words brought hope and a new perspective to the couple. Like many Canadians, the couple have found themselves consumed with how COVID-19 has impacted their day-to-day lives. But after hearing these words, they are grateful for the roof over their heads and knowing their loved ones are safe at home.
“In a time when we are all finding something to complain about, here is this lady experiencing homelessness in the midst of the pandemic and she is smiling and comforting us with her words,” says Donna. “Our problems are so small compared to others.”
“The Salvation Army is going to be there for anyone in need”
“We have been impacted financially and experienced job loss like so many have and we get caught up in that and the loss of our normal lives, says Dave. “But moments like these are so humbling, it reminds us of the bigger picture and what’s important, and that’s helping others.”
The Salvation Army continues to offer essential services across Canada with the help of our dedicated staff and volunteers, such as Dave and Donna.
“This is such a powerful reminder of how important it is to help people in need during this time,” says Donna. “The needs are there and they’ve only been escalated by the crisis.”
“If you’re capable, you should help in any way you can,” says Dave. “The Salvation Army is always going to be there for anyone in need. It’s The Salvation Army way.”
To volunteer, please contact your local Salvation Army. You can find their contact info here.
By: Angela Rafuse