One summer day, Donna took her three-year-old daughter to a community event. However, when they returned to their home in Langford, B.C., their residence was in flames. As she watched her house, she realized that everything they owned would likely be lost.

“The house was gone. It was burning and I didn’t know what to do,” Donna says.

To this day, 62 years later, Donna doesn’t know how The Salvation Army got there so quickly. She says they came almost at the same time as the fire department. 

“The Salvation Army just appeared when I was still looking at the fire,” Donna says. “I have no idea how they found out.”

Never Forgotten

As soon as The Salvation Army arrived, they offered Donna and her daughter a place to stay at a nearby motel. Over the next few weeks, the Army provided them with assistance to help them get back on their feet. This was crucial, as Donna had no family members living in Langford who could help her.

“They saved my life,” Donna confesses. “I had no clothes. I had nothing. The Salvation Army gave us thrift-store vouchers to purchase clothes for my daughter and myself. They made sure we had food, and they came almost every day to check if I was OK.”

A couple of months after the fire, Donna found a new place to live. However, she never forgot about the help she received.

“Since then, I’ve given to The Salvation Army every year,” she says. Additionally, Donna has volunteered for the Christmas kettle campaign and is always open to supporting the organization.

“I like to help The Salvation Army,” she concludes. ”I want to be there for them because I know they do such good work, and there are people out there that need their help.”

Juan Romero is the staff writer/news media relations specialist at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters in Toronto.

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