Claudia and her family lived a comfortable life in Mexico. Her husband, Ricardo, was a psychologist with his own practice, and she worked for a construction company that partnered with the Mexican government.

They had a house and cars, and their three children were well cared for. 

Turning Point

But not everything was perfect. Drug cartels were jeopardizing the family’s safety, so Claudia and Ricardo fled to Canada, where they found security and hope at The Salvation Army.

“It was really hard for us because we had to leave our house, our jobs, our lives, our families there, and we tried to look for a safe place to live, and that’s why we are here,” Claudia says.

Arriving in Toronto, they were determined to create a new life filled with promise. With no jobs, they survived on their savings, profit from the sale of their home and support from her father in Mexico. The family lived in a small basement apartment and didn’t know how to access resources.

In 2019, Claudia met Olga Alvarez, a food-bank client and a member of The Salvation Army. Hearing about the family’s struggles, Olga directed her to The Salvation Army Yorkminster Citadel’s food bank, where she met community and family services manager Liz Colley. They started receiving monthly food assistance and, from that moment, life began to improve. Claudia describes meeting Liz as a true turning point.

“A New Life”

“My gratitude is going to be forever for the strength and support they give us every single day,” Claudia says.

Through The Salvation Army, she found life-changing assistance, both from a food security and a spiritual perspective, as well as Christmas gifts, school supplies for her children, and ongoing compassion and encouragement.

The food bank helped sustain the family when they had no income, and Liz provided guidance in navigating the complex immigration system. When Claudia learned about The Salvation Army’s immigration services, she applied first for refugee status and then permanent residency, which was approved in early 2024.

“I feel really blessed because now I can stay in this country and I’m safe here. I have a new life, and all of this is thanks to The Salvation Army,” Claudia says.

After years of adjusting to their new life here, both Claudia and Ricardo have found stability. She is training to become a massage therapist, while Ricardo hopes to resume his career as a psychologist. Grateful for the community that supported her family, Claudia has given back by volunteering at the Yorkminster Citadel food bank every Wednesday for four years