When Mahmood arrived with his family of five in Canada in 2017, he hoped they could finally feel safe. Four years earlier, he had no choice but to leave Iraq, relatives, his job and culture.

“In Iraq we faced danger,” says Mahmood. “There was war, our lives were threatened and no one was safe. It was a very hard life.”

While the family lived in Turkey as refugees, the children weren’t allowed to go to school. Mahmood worked as a carpenter, earning barely enough for rent and basic food. Then a friend in Canada found them a sponsor.

Hope … and One Happy Boy

“We arrived in Vancouver with a bag of clothes,” says Mahmood. “After we located a basement apartment to rent in Surrey, B.C., we lost our support network. We were alone, isolated and spoke no English.”

Mahmood went to school to learn English and searched the internet for organizations who help newcomers. He found someone who spoke Arabic and she made an appointment for him with The Salvation Army in Surrey.

“When I had nothing, The Salvation Army gave me hope.” Mahmood.

“I showed the Salvation Army worker a picture of our apartment—no couches or tables, no beds. I couldn’t afford to provide complete meals for my family, let alone household items,” says Mahmood.

The Salvation Army gave him food, chocolate, a thrift store voucher to purchase furniture, school supplies for his three children and $150 to buy them toys.

“My son was so happy, he put all the toys beside his bed and didn’t sleep for two days,” smiles Mahmood.

Lives Changed

In 2019, Mahmood and his family volunteered with The Salvation Army’s Christmas kettle campaign. In Surrey, where many people speak Arabic, Mahmood helped the Army’s community and family services by serving as a translator, and his wife, Noor, volunteers as the Army’s Arabic volunteer co-ordinator.

“We wanted to help others, like The Salvation Army helped us,” says Mahmood.

Before long, Mahmood used his computer skills to assist with client records. He was eventually hired and is now working full time as a family services worker.

“When I had nothing, The Salvation Army gave me hope,” says Mahmood. “They changed my whole life and my family’s life. We now live in a home. I have an income and a pay stub. Thanks to The Salvation Army, we are thriving as new members in our community.”

Linda Leigh is manager of communications at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters in Toronto.

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