Every week, Cheryl creates delicious, healthy meals and learns how to cook on a budget at The Salvation Army’s ‘What’s Cooking’ program in Markham, Ont. But her visits are more than about cooking western-style with limited finances.

“My goal was to overcome fear and anxiety.”

“When I first came to The Salvation Army I suffered with anxiety and fear,” says Cheryl. “My husband had lost his job and, being immigrants in a new country, we had no family support system. I was depressed and anxious about our future. The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope program helped me feel happy and fulfilled again.”

Pathway of Hope supports families with their goals and the things they struggle with. It’s about conversations, relationships and resources that lift people out of the difficult situations they may be faced with.

“We don’t impose goals on our clients,” says Julie Whalen, community and family services worker at Markham. “Pathway of Hope is client-focused. We help participants identify goals and journey alongside side them to help break down barriers that prevent them from reaching those objectives.”

“The Salvation Army and my family have a very strong relationship.”

“My goal was to overcome fear and anxiety,” says Cheryl. “The Salvation Army helped me find counselling that really helped me. They worked with my husband to define his goals. He went back to school and has a job now.

“The Salvation Army and my family have a very strong relationship. I call on them anytime for help or encouragement. We have no relatives in Canada, so that is huge for me and my family.”

“In addition to practical support, The Salvation Army helps with loneliness and emotional support,” says Whalen. “We are cheerleaders who offer a warm welcome and are here to support people in any way we can.”

Shared from salvationarmy.ca: https://salvationarmy.ca/blog/helping-newcomers-overcome-challenges/