Reon

Welfare

Reon began counselling at The Salvation Army, using his own life experiences to help people

Reon works as a counsellor at a Salvation Army centre, helping people through their abuse, addiction, suicide and family issues. People trust him, he says, because he can understand where they are coming from. ‘After all,’ he says, ‘that used to be me.’

Reon grew up in a violent home, running away from his abusive stepfather when he was just 12. He was in foster homes throughout his teenage years where he was introduced to drugs and alcohol and became suicidal.

‘I had a lot of hatred and laid around a lot of blame for all the stuff that was happening,’ he says. ‘I have scars all down my arms and was feeling so low.’

Reon ran away again, this time to the streets where he spent the next 13 years in and out of his own abusive relationships and suffering with addiction.

It was then that an attack outside of a pub landed him in hospital for three months and sparked the realisation that he needed to get his life back on track. Reon met a nurse who would later become his wife and started a work placement at a local Salvation Army centre stocking the food bank. There his life changed course.

‘While I was on my placement my wife encouraged me to do a counselling course,’ he says. ‘I hadn’t done any schooling, but the institution ended up accepting me because of my life skills and experiences.’

Reon passed all of his papers, receiving a Level 6 Diploma, and began a counselling service through The Salvation Army centre. He plans to complete a Post-Graduate Degree in the near future.

‘This has been the best move I have made in my whole life,’ he says. ‘These people are feeling like I was: that there is nothing. It helps for them to have somebody that has been in their shoes, knowing what they’re feeling and going through.

‘I don’t want to walk back,’ he continued. ‘I don’t want to go backwards. I have been in hell and I have come back. Now I am sharing my story with people to give them hope in their lives too.’

Tania

Welfare

Five years ago Tania suffered a major medical setback, leading to endless medical concerns, piles of unpaid bills and an abusive partner.
‘Everything was gone in a puff of smoke,’ she says. ‘I was financially choking and my partner was so upset I couldn’t work that he became abusive. I felt that suddenly the world was over.’

Tania filed a protection order against her partner, meaning her two daughters were forced into respite care while Tania spent three more months in hospital for major surgery. During this time Tania’s partner forcefully took one of their daughters from respite care, adding stress to Tania’s already fragile state.

‘I already had to leave my young girls with strangers, and then this happened,’ she says. ‘I just got so mentally depressed because it seemed like there were no answers.’

Upon her recovery Tania came to The Salvation Army because she didn’t know where else to go. With no money, needing to renew her relationships with her young daughters and no foreseeable source of income, Tania knew she needed help.

‘I came to see a budget advisor,’ she says. ‘I just kept coming in and they offered me support and taught me how to manage my budget and get my life back together.

‘Coming to The Salvation Army really brought me around to realise that there are other people in the world like me,’ she continues. ‘I’m not the only one who has had tough times.’

Tania got her budget in order, meaning she and her daughters could manage on Tania’s invalid benefit as Tania began to pay off her debt. She also participated in The Salvation Army ‘Positive Lifestyle Program’ and the local community’s ‘Living Without Violence’ course, both of which inspired her to help other women.

‘I really want to be a facilitator so that I can talk to other women who can’t see outside what their lives are now,’ she says. ‘I want to be able to tell them that I’ve walked it—I’ve been where they are and I am so blessed to be here today.’

Tania is thankful that she is in a much better place than she used to be. ‘I used to call what I’ve been through “the black area”’, she says, ‘but we got through it and I can call it “colourful” now. I am just so glad I came to The Salvation Army. They helped change
my life.’

Dennize

Welfare

After attending a local Salvation Army youth programme through his school, Dennize’s son Fred got his whole family involved

Dennize remembers clearly when Fred first heard about The Salvation Army through SportsLife, a programme run at his local school combining sports and mentoring. After he found out The Salvation Army could also help his family, he brought them along to the local Salvation Army Community Ministries.

‘My son came to me one day after school with a piece of paper in his hand,’ says Dennize, Fred’s mother. ‘He told me, “Mum, you just have to ring this number!”’

Fred and his three sisters began attending youth programmes, events and camps at their local Salvation Army centre, while Dennize and her husband received assistance with budgeting, counselling and occasional food parcels.

‘We have a lot of fun,’ says Fred’s sister Fiona. ‘I really like being able to meet all of the different people, and I don’t feel like I need to get into trouble. All our friends come here, so we can just have a good time here instead.’

‘My children love to come to The Salvation Army,’ adds Dennize. ‘They love to have relationships with not only the youth but also the adults who help them with different things.’

Local Welfare Team Leader Jason has worked with Dennize and her family over the years: ‘Whenever someone comes through our doors, it is about building a relationship with them,’ he says. ‘It has been so good to see the whole family, especially the kids, get involved and make positive changes in their lives.’

The help and fellowship Dennize and her family received from The Salvation Army immediately spurred in them a desire to give something back.

‘I like being able to see how happy people look when we can give them something,’ says Mary, Dennize’s youngest. Fiona adds, ‘It feels so easy to help people because someone else helped us too.’

Dennize became the chef for the local Salvation Army centre’s community meal, held once a month. She creates a theme for each meal, and Fred, Fiona and Mary help her prepare the food after school.

‘I love to work for people in this community,’ says Dennize. ‘I want to share my talent with everyone and help The Salvation Army come together with the community and eat as a family. We want them to know that if they need help, we are here.’

Salvation Army youth programmes offer a positive influence in the lives of young New Zealanders. We are proud to see how this brings families and communities together.

Anna

Welfare

Anna struggled with mounting debt for years before asking The Salvation Army for help. Now she does everything she can to give back some of what she’s been given.

Anna came to The Salvation Army four years ago for help with her family budget. As a solo mum Anna was struggling to make ends meet, finding school expenses, winter clothing and other daily needs too costly.

‘I needed help with my budgeting,’ says Anna. ‘Things like school camps were unaffordable to me. I would rather have food on the table, and these things add up.’

Anna met with a budgeting advisor at her local Salvation Army Community Ministries who helped her create a strict but achievable plan.

‘I hadn’t realised that the Sallies could help me like this,’ she says. ‘The budget advisor helped me make a budget that fits our needs, making sure that we can make it work each week.’

Astounded at how the Sallies were able to help her, Anna began helping others. She volunteered during Christmas, sorting toys and food for families in her area and referred at least seven other women to meet with a budgeting advisor. Anna also worked in the food bank, handing out food parcels and giving advice on how to make family-friendly, healthy meals with the food provided.

Empowered by a heightened sense of community Anna then offered the back yard of her home as a community garden to supplement the food parcels with fresh fruit and vegetables.

‘The Sallies just helped me in so many ways—I wanted to give back,’ she says. ‘All I could give back was my back lawn, and all I am is the water sprinkler, but this is definitely a start.’

With help from the local council, Salvation Army Community Ministries, and Bunnings Warehouse, the garden became home to 12 plots and over 300 plants, all of which are used by the Sallies for healthier, fresher food parcels.

‘I have no idea about plants,’ says Anna, ‘but I like being able to give people a little something extra. I know where people are coming from—I’ve done the hard times! But now I know that The Sallies can help. I want other people to come to know that too.’

It’s all about ‘Community’ and the Sallies whole-heartedly support, and wish to thank, all those who want to give back to their community after being helped themselves.

Leigh

Welfare

Leigh couldn’t imagine sending her kids back to school without adding to the increasing pile of debt she and her husband faced while living in her mum’s garage.

‘We had debt that was unimaginable,’ says Leigh. ‘My husband and I were fighting all the time about money. Getting the kids back to school in February we were required to buy uniforms, books, school camp—it was just impossible. We had to get ourselves sorted.’

They went to the Sallies for help, having become associated with The Salvation Army through a morning play group and since then regularly attending their local Salvation Army centre.

Within a year they began to pay off debts, work out payment plans with the local school and had even saved enough money to rent their own place.

‘We stuck to the budget for a year and we now rent a house,’ says Leigh. ‘We are now our own family unit for the first time ever and this is the first year that we have come out of Christmas with less debt than when we went in.’

Because of Leigh’s diligence with their budget, she was able to help implement a budget plan at the local school, enabling other families struggling with debt to pay off school expenses such as fees, stationery, uniforms and camps in weekly instalments rather than lump sums.

‘It’s not so stressful having the kids go back to school now because we can actually afford for our kids to go,’ says Leigh. ‘So now I just do what I can to help other people out.’

Along with maintaining payment plans for school fees, Leigh is also part of a group of friends that help each other with such needs as school uniforms and home-baked bread. Leigh is also now involved in running a weekly playgroup at the Salvation Army centre.

‘My kids go to a lower decile school, so a lot of us are in the same boat,’ says Leigh. ‘So if we have extra we always share. For me it’s just part of being able to give back.’

Leigh also says that being able to budget into the new school year and begin to pay off her debts has changed her life for the better.

‘Since the Sallies helped us put our budget in place, mine and my husband’s relationship is a lot stronger and we are a lot happier. Before we just existed. Now we live.’

Te Rangi

Welfare

Being young and pregnant with your first child is daunting at the best of times. Being homeless as well is a chilling prospect.

That was 21-year-old Te Rangi’s life eight months ago: nights at a shelter for women and days spent wandering the streets.

Having lived in more than a dozen Child, Youth and Family foster homes since she was three, her first experience of flatting ended abruptly when she was thrown out after becoming pregnant.

‘I don’t connect with my family so I didn’t have support there,’ she says. ‘Yeah, that time was tough,’ she says.

Te Rangi came to The Salvation Army when a flat became available at one of its supported housing units. This typically accommodates mothers for three months—usually enough time for them to ready themselves for a new life with their children.

Salvation Army social workers quickly realised that if Te Rangi was to establish a viable future for herself and her baby, she would need to re-evaluate the direction of her life, learn new life skills and build up the support networks most of us take for granted.

She commenced counselling and started a Salvation Army-designed programme dealing with emotional issues such as grief or loneliness, and developing skills like assertiveness and goal-setting. She also worked with a budget advisor to prepare her for the day she would run her own household as a single mother.

Beryl, a Salvation Army support accommodation supervisor and advocate, prepared and supported Te Rangi as she negotiated long-term rental accommodation, a new and formidable experience for the young mother.

She introduced Te Rangi to the support group Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS) to help her build up a circle of new friends and support. Te Rangi also widened her network by joining a local church.

Today, Te Rangi is the proud and doting mother of a four-month-old daughter and the house-proud tenant of her own home. The Salvation Army helped furnish Te Rangi’s new flat and will provide ongoing food parcels and mentoring until she is on her feet. She is also continuing with Salvation Army counselling.

Beryl says Te Rangi’s early life failed to prepare her for adulthood, but she knows the future she wants for her daughter and now knows how to get it. ‘No obstacle is too great—it’s about mindset, and I can see a good future for Te Rangi,’ Beryl says.

Te Rangi is now looking ahead for the first time and will mentor other young mothers at the Salvation Army flats. She also plans to study.

Lineti

Youth & Children

Lineti Sifa attends Nuku’alofa Corps in Tonga. She is also a Salvation Army-sponsored child

I was brought up in a Christian family and have been in The Salvation Army my whole life, knowing who Jesus is and how amazing it is if he becomes your best friend.

I am a corps cadet [Ed—corps cadets is a Salvation Army youth discipleship programme]. Being in corps cadets is such a great privilege, for I get to learn how to live my life according to God’s ways and to keep a very close relationship with Jesus.

God has done many great and wonderful things for my life, and it’s such an amazing thing for me to experience his greatness.

I’d like to share one of my blessings with you: I happened to be one of 20 fortunate girls who were chosen to represent Tonga in the Under-20 football team for the Oceania World Cup. At first I really wanted to be in the team, although there were plenty of great players trying out. I was also kind of worried, seeing how it could interfere with my studies and other responsibilities. 

But I told God one night, ‘It’s all up to you. Whatever you think is best, I trust in you.’ God had just added another bridge for my future, because he said, ‘Yes.’

I was so shocked when I was told of this news that I sat back and thought, ‘How in the world did God do it?’ I was all mixed up, but I remind myself of how big and awesome Jesus is. Everything is possible to him!

A verse from Isaiah 40:31 encourages me (another great thing about corps cadets is that we learn about journaling—writing your daily walk with God):

‘But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed.  They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.’

No matter how irresistible the devil is and how tough things are, hang on to God’s words and put your trust in him! Call on him and he’ll be there for you, even when you least expect him.

Charity

Accommodation

Abandoned by her husband with little more than the clothes on her back, Charity was in the depths of despair when she came to The Salvation Army.

Charity spent the first few nights of her sudden separation camped out on the porch of her former home in a North Island city.

‘In December, my husband moved out. He left me standing in the driveway. I had nowhere to stay so I had to plead with him to take her [daughter] until I could find a stable place to live.’

With no family in New Zealand for support, she followed her husband and daughter to their new home in a small rural town to be near her daughter. After being served with a trespass order, Charity was moved on by police and spent several nights sleeping in a utility shed at a sports ground. Because she had no money, she did not eat during that time.

Charity and her daughter moved to New Zealand from Zimbabwe four years ago to join her husband who had secured work here. She obtained a work permit and returned to her profession of teaching. But unknown to Charity, she had already been divorced in absentia in a Zimbabwean court.

When Charity first arrived at The Salvation Army, lost and confused, its social workers arranged emergency accommodation. They helped organise a Work and Income New Zealand benefit for her while she awaited a new work permit, and provided food parcels to tide her over.

The Army arranged for a Zimbawean-born social work student who had spent time as an intern at The Salvation Army to work with Charity. Staff also helped organise a lawyer and supported Charity in her efforts to regain custody of her daughter through the Family Court.

By her own admission, Charity is a different person to the woman who turned up on The Salvation Army’s steps four months ago. She volunteers teaching new migrants and has started to think about a future for herself and her daughter in New Zealand.

‘Before I came [to The Salvation Army], I didn’t know what was going on for me but now I have a much more positive attitude and I can look forward.’

Mareea

Welfare

Tragedies like the death of her child, the breakup of her marriage and the passing of her parents within six weeks of each other finally caught up with Mareea last year.

The last of her three children leaving home and being unable to find work because of her health were catalysts for an acute bout of depression that left Mareea imprisoning herself in her bedroom for 24-hours a day. To add to her problems, her house was burgled and vandalised.

While she was seriously ill, Mareea neglected to keep contact with Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) and her benefit payments stopped, throwing her finances into crisis and worsening her depression.

‘I had some past traumas I hadn’t dealt and my children leaving home had left me feeling I’d been dumped, to the point where you feel worthless,’ Mareea says. ‘So I gave up on the world, stayed at home and lived in my bed – I wasn’t eating or taking care of myself.’

Today, Mareea has her life back and is a vibrant and energetic community volunteer, thanks largely to her own will power and the help of The Salvation Army.

When Mareea arrived at The Salvation Army, an advocate was provided to help her deal with WINZ and ensure she received the payments she was entitled to.

Food parcels were provided as a stop-gap and Mareea and a budget adviser worked out a strategy to get her out of her financial predicament.

‘From the first moment of coming to The Salvation Army, [my advocate] was able to help me with any issue, and for me that was a big uplift,’ she says.

Mareea began volunteer work in The Salvation Army food bank and later used her administrative skills to work in the office. She now also does volunteer work five days a week, coordinating the growing Maori arm of the local Salvation Army, organising community meals and administrative work. She has even encouraged her children to help out.

Mareea says her work routine is both satisfying and helps keep her depression in check. ‘When you’re able to go out there and make a difference in someone’s life; well, that’s what encourages me and keeps me on target,’ she says.

‘The Salvation Army has helped me climb out of a black hole.’

Cate

Welfare

The former primary teacher suffered a head injury at work six years ago, but thanks to a large reserve of determination and courage—along with help from The Salvation Army—Cate is leading a fulfilling life.

She is now on the road to becoming financially independent, but her gains have been hard won.

‘I actually had to learn the alphabet again from scratch,’ she said. ‘From my teaching I knew the first way of learning the alphabet was singing it so that’s what I did, and I learnt to spell again by playing scrabble with my mother.’

Cate first became involved with The Salvation Army when she asked them to draw up a budget for her as required by WINZ so she could register as a sickness beneficiary.

Salvation Army staff were then influential in helping her get back on her feet.

They provided the encouragement and guidance for Cate to get to the point where she has completed her qualifications as a Speld tutor for those with learning difficulties and now sits on an advisory panel for Child, Youth and Family.

The Salvation Army also came to rescue in the form of providing advocacy.

Dealing with government departments and fielding batteries of questions can be arduous at the best of times, but with her injury, Cate found the process exhausting and highly stressful.

‘That advocacy has been absolutely invaluable,’ she says. ‘Before that I would go in and leave in tears every time and then home to bed because I would have such a headache.’

Other instances of The Salvation Army stepping in for her include a staff member negotiating the cancellation of a contract Cate had been persuaded to sign by a door-to-door salesman—something she says she wouldn’t have done before her accident.

From early on, Cate had signalled that she was interested in volunteer work once her health had stabilised. She now helps run a cooking course for woman clients of The Salvation Army, showing them how to prepare nutritious and cost-effective meals—skills she says have been lost to many younger women.

Anna

Welfare

A single mother with literacy difficulties has gone from struggling to keep her family’s head above water to starting a new life as a teaching professional.

Anna came to The Salvation Army two years ago for budgeting advice following the separation from her partner. She had inherited debt from the relationship and was finding it difficult balancing the household books.

Anna had already been running a tight household budget. The Salvation Army helped Anna draw up a new budget that left her with $20 disposable income. The Salvation Army then helped fill the gap with regular food parcels.

But Anna says that The Salvation Army’s life-changing contribution was its encouragement and emotional support.

At 15, her teacher told her there was no point staying at school and advised her to leave and take a job at the local supermarket, which she did. But she still held onto her life-long dream of becoming an early childhood teacher.

The Salvation Army encouraged Anna to undertake adult literacy classes.

Since completing the literacy course and computer training last year, she is now working her way through a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.

‘The Sallies gave me lots of self-confidence, a shoulder to cry on and let me talk through my problems without judging me,’ Anna says.

‘A few nice comments and some cheering—c’mon you can do it—can make a world of difference to how you see your future.’

She no longer receives food parcels and successfully juggles full-time study and raising two daughters with work as a part-time teachers’ aid.

Major Karen Hayward, who worked with Anna, says, ‘Anna survived incredible circumstances incredibly well but she came to us with little self-esteem—she had no idea she was such a bright cookie. Now she’s gained a level of self-confidence, her options are open.’

Anna says: ‘I didn’t know anything about The Salvation Army before I came here and I felt a bit ashamed. But if it wasn’t for the food parcels helping me out and the support and the new ideas I got here, I would probably would still be sitting around thinking about what I would like to do.’

Tip

Youth & Children

Tip started doing drugs after school with his friends as a way to deal with his parent's separation and to have a bit of fun. But that soon spiralled out of control and led to Tip having a run in with the law.

‘My drug use got heavier and heavier with time, and I had no money and had no job,’ he says. ‘So my mates and I ended up robbing the dairy; well, trying to rob the dairy. We got away from that, but then one of my friend’s missus, she knew that we were doing it, and she went and dobbed us in.’

Tip and his friends were released on bail, but after partying hard that night a couple of them got caught driving under the influence and ended up having to serve their time. Tip got off pretty lucky.

‘I didn’t know how to deal with it all, so I started coming up here to Faraday Street [the Salvation Army’s community centre],’ he says. ‘I would come up here a couple of times a week, just helping out, doing stuff for them, keeping fit.’

But because Tip had been using drugs and alcohol for so long, his self esteem really suffered and his identity took a big hit.

Karl Foreman, leader of the Whakaoranga programme in Napier began noticing a difference in Tip almost right away: ‘You can see a real difference from what Tip was. When you came in here, bro, you were pretty lost, aye. No self-esteem, you were depressed. Now I see in Tip a champion. He just has so much potential, you know?’

While coming to Faraday Street during his stint on home detention, Tip started boxing through a programme there called ‘Lord’s Gym’, and since then has continued training and recently competed in the Golden Gloves in Taupo this year, coming second in his division.

‘Doing boxing up at Faraday helped me gain heaps of confidence,’ he says. ‘I managed to come off all the drugs, slowly work through depression and find something that I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to be a professional boxer. That’s the dream, but I’m not sure yet where the track will lead me.

‘I loved coming up here,’ he continues. ‘No one cared where you came from or anything like that, aye; it was good to see who people were and to be who I was instead of walking around trying to do what other people want me to do. It was really good to work through my stuff, obviously with their help.’

Because of his positive transformation at Faraday Street, Tip passed through his parole hearing without a hitch and was able to keep out of jail. Tip is now 19 and is working full time doing roofing, which he really enjoys. He continues to come up to Faraday Street once in a while to have a quick spar, chat with Karl or to hang out with the guys who are going through the same things he did. He’s totally clean and has an awesome dream for the future. God is going to take him somewhere epic and use his story for great things.

Bert

Court & Prison Services

Three years ago Bert walked out of prison and into the care of The Salvation Army—and he hasn’t looked back.

In prison, Bert decided to embark on a new path that would lead him away from crime and prison for good. He was accepted into a Maori focus unit aimed at helping Maori prison inmates understand the value and origins of Maori culture, and how it can help them build new lives on the outside. It was there the graphic arts and design graduate began to learn Maori carving.

He also came in contact with The Salvation Army through its prison chaplains.

‘Being incarcerated for quite a while and trying to break out of my old lifestyle, it was good to know there were people out there who cared for me, who loved me without standing in judgement,’ Bert says.

He was released into the care of The Salvation Army through Operation Jericho—a prisoner reintegration programme overseen by Prison Fellowship New Zealand. The programme involves churches taking selected, recently-released prisoners under their wings and mentoring and supporting them in overcoming the social and economic barriers faced on release.

‘I came straight here from prison and they (The Salvation Army) welcomed me with open arms—with love and caring. Who would not want to be a part of that?’ says Bert. The Salvation Army provided him with supported accommodation and then with food and furniture when he moved into a flat.

In the three years since his release, Bert has steered clear of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. He says his quality of life and peace of mind are a far cry from earlier days. He is now an active member of the Salvation Army church, helps take its kapa haka classes and is looking to provide mentoring and support for other released prisoners.

Bert has done volunteer work for The Salvation Army and is working towards setting up a business based on his graphic arts and design talents.

‘They gave me pretty much all I have. Words are nothing without action, and the Army shows every day that it works for the neglected, the poor, the abused.’

Liz

Welfare

Liz and her five dependent children were facing eviction when she finally told The Salvation Army of her plight.

Recently separated and with no family for support, Liz struggled for a year with high rent, rising living costs and spiralling debt before seeking help.

Behind in rent, the family was sent an eviction notice two years ago. ‘I thought I could get through it single-handedly, but it all came tumbling down like an avalanche,’ Liz says.

Making little headway in securing a Housing New Zealand house, she finally approached The Salvation Army two weeks before she had to vacate her house.

‘Admitting my situation—having to say we were about to become homeless—was huge,’ she recalls. ‘I was actually embarrassed I had got myself into that position—that I wasn’t able to look after my children singlehandedly. I also had to explain to my kids that it was okay to accept help.’

The Salvation Army quickly put the family into one of its emergency houses, and a Salvation Army budget advisor began to work with Liz on a strategy to tackle her debt.

A strict budget meant Liz was left with only $80 a week to feed, clothe and provide utilities and health care to a household of six, but The Salvation Army helped with regular food parcels and second-hand clothing.

It also helped negotiate a more permanent home for the family with Housing New Zealand.

Liz admits the last couple of years have been a continual struggle, but she now has a full-time job and is well on the way to becoming debt-free.

‘It’s been a really horrendous time in many ways, but I’ve made sure my kids’ basic needs have been met, particularly their emotional needs,’ she says.

A qualified chef, Liz runs cooking classes in her spare time as part of a Salvation Army life skills programme and is preparing to start a second course in another part of town. And as a further way to help others in her community she also helps cater for The Salvation Army’s community Christmas dinner.

Peni

Court & Prison Services

I want to share what God has done to bring me through the hardest times.

I was a rebel soldier during George Speight’s coup in Fiji in the year 2000, a leader of rebels from the North.  One week after we surrendered our guns in Labasa, I was arrested and sent to prison for two-and-a-half years. After I completed that sentence I was charged with arson during the coup. I was again convicted and imprisoned for one year, six months.

I want to thank God for choosing Salvation Army people like Captain Jare and Brother Lekima to come and visit me every Saturday during my time in prison. Because of them I know and love God’s plans for my life! I also thank God for The Salvation Army in Labasa, which gave me correspondence courses that taught me to dig deeper into the Bible.

When there were three months left for me to serve, God spoke to me in my cell. He said to me, ‘I will change your clothes to be new clothes and … [put] shoes on your feet to travel and teach my Word from place to place.’ I couldn’t believe that would be possible and cried out to God, ‘But I am guilty! All my family know all the history of my life and knew that I wore very dirty clothes. How can I be clean?’

I asked God to show me where to go and to help me to understand what he had said. But sometimes we have to wait for God’s answers, which come in his time. Just before I was released from prison God said to me, ‘Peni, only the Word that I teach you will wash all your dirt away. Just read the Bible, my Word, and ask the power of God to take you through life.’

God has given me a new start and I now serve him with great joy. I go back to prison to share the Word of God with other prisoners every Saturday. I am involved in open-air meetings around Labasa, and I attend Salvation Army meetings every Sunday. I am looking forward to starting preparation classes to become a Salvation Army soldier.

Racheal

Welfare

Racheal fled her partner and small town life three years ago and moved to the city. ‘Because I lived my life in fear all the time, I suffered from anxiety and I couldn’t function properly so I also couldn’t function well as a mother,’ she says.

Now at the age of 30, Racheal cares for her youngest daughter and has three children with relatives and one in Child Youth and Family Services (CYFS) care.

She says one of the key turning points in her life came when she made contact with The Salvation Army and enrolled in one of their life skills courses.

The course teaches practical skills such as cooking, nutrition and budgeting, but the life-changer for Racheal was a module on self-esteem.

Her domestic situation had destroyed Racheal’s belief in herself and left her with no confidence for new challenges. ‘For a lot of mothers self-esteem is a big issue, especially if they’ve been in a relationship like mine,’ she explains. Salvation Army staff played an important role in providing encouragement and gently prodding her in the right direction.

One of the other significant benefits of the course was learning to prepare nutritious and cost-effective meals. ‘It got me interested in cooking. I went out and bought a crockpot the other day and I’m experimenting with that,’ Racheal says.

She also rekindled her interest in information technology and is enrolling in a computing course. Her ultimate aim is to establish a career in women’s public health. Before the course and work to rebuild her confidence, Racheal says she would never have even entertained the idea of further education or a career.

But her immediate objective is to regain custody of her daughter. Racheal says the life skills course was the first step in reuniting with her daughter. Recent discussions with CYFS had been positive and there is a ‘strong possibility’ mother and daughter will be together once she has been through a residential parenting programme.

‘The life skills course has helped me understand myself. Yeah, I’ve made mistakes but I’m making myself a better person so I can be a good mother to my kids.’

Murray

Drugs & Alcohol

It has taken several decades to get one man on track to a better quality of life and some inner peace. But The Salvation Army doesn’t give up, and that tenacity is now paying off for Murray.

At 73, Murray has finally found stability and his place in his community after years of wrestling with alcoholism, periods of homelessness and a string of drink driving convictions.

His first contact with The Salvation Army was in the 1960s when he first sought help to sever his dependence on alcohol. ‘Back in those days, they pulled me out of the gutter,’ he says.

Today, the softly spoken toiler is a volunteer groundsman for The Salvation Army, recently taking on the job of establishing and managing a large vegetable garden. The new garden will provide fresh vegetables for local families in need through The Salvation Army food bank.

A critical part of helping Murray establish a balanced life was finding him a home. The Salvation Army organised temporary accommodation in a boarding house while it negotiated a Housing New Zealand flat on his behalf.

Murray says his structured work life, usually six days a week, the support of a number of Salvation Army staff and attending church services have given him new confidence so that his life has turned a corner. He has a solid support network and a keen focus on remaining sober. ‘I’m very happy here with the Army, they never gave up on me. It’s a place where I feel safe.’

His work regime and the knowledge others are relying on the food he produces plays a major role in maintaining his focus, he says. ‘This garden has given me great responsibilities. I know what needs to be done and the food goes to those who aren’t so fortunate, so it’s good to be able to do that for those families.’

Murray has earned a reputation as a giver rather than a taker. Salvation Army staff say he has a high degree of pride and refuses to ask for food parcels or other assistance.

One of The Salvation Army’s long-held tenets is the firm belief in the worth of every addict and that there is no such thing as a hopeless case. Its Bridge Programme is a well-established source of expertise on addiction and serves about 3200 alcoholics and drug addicts a year throughout the country.

The Salvation Army can also help its Bridge graduates with aftercare services, supportive accommodation, and training and guidance to get back into the workforce.

Karen

Drugs & Alcohol

Karen doubts she would have seriously considered a social work degree if she hadn’t been through the struggle to overcome her alcohol addiction.

She moved from Australia to New Zealand with her husband and three children four years ago. A year after their arrival, Karen decided she needed to do something about her drinking. She enrolled as a day client in The Salvation Army’s Bridge Programme. She was also introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and The Salvation Army Recovery Church, geared towards helping recovering alcoholics and drug addicts stay on track.

Things went smoothly for a while, but Karen says she struggled to admit she was an alcoholic and 17 months ago relapsed.

In May last year, Karen decided to get her life back on track and started as a volunteer with The Salvation Army working at the food bank. After qualifying as a budget advisor, she began working with families trying to make ends meet. Earlier this year she became a part-time staff member.

‘Immersing myself in this place and the support from everyone here has made the difference.‘ This year, Karen completed a psychology paper in preparation for full-time study next year for a Bachelor of Applied Social Services.

Kevin

Welfare

After 20 years on a benefit, building the motivation to change his life and stay on track has been a tough but rewarding challenge for Kevin.

It was Kevin’s growing desperation with an increasingly unmanageable life that originally spurred him to get off a benefit. Five years ago, with his marriage on the rocks, he approached The Salvation Army for budget advice.

A Salvation Army budget advisor helped him establish a three-year plan to get rid of what had become a crippling amount of debt. Kevin stuck to the plan and is now debt-free. During that time he received a food parcel every month to help keep the family afloat.

But budgeting advice wasn’t the only help Kevin was seeking.

After 20 years on a benefit, and in an attempt to save his marriage, Kevin was looking to learn new social skills that would help turn his life around and hopefully save his marriage.

‘I’d had a horrible childhood and I became an adult at a very young age because, as children, we had had no real parenting and no idea of common decency,’ Kevin says. ‘When I came to The Salvation Army, I had no social skills, I did not know how to get a job and I was an aggressive and intimidating person. I trusted no one.’

The Salvation Army offered Kevin parttime volunteer work as a driver picking up and delivering household items for the local Family Store. At the same time, Salvation Army staff counselled him on how to interact with others in a healthy way and how to operate within a team.

Kevin says the key lessons he learned from The Salvation Army were that the community is really one big family and that respect of others and oneself is paramount. ‘This was important because when I was growing up I never learned how to respect others.’

He was then offered part-time paid work and three months ago became a fulltime driver for The Salvation Army—his first job in two decades.

Making changes to his life hasn’t been easy, says Kevin, and he knows that he still has a lot of work ahead.

David

Court & Prison Services

David is the typical doting father. He constantly has one eye on 18-month daughter Tiya, making sure she is fed, watered, nose wiped and that the toddler’s relentless curiosity doesn’t cause her any harm. What sets him apart is the electronic tracking bracelet on his ankle, courtesy of the Department of Corrections’ home detention programme.

It wasn’t long ago that David was a man of violence. He was one of the country’s pioneering methamphetamine manufacturers, with a high-flying lifestyle and links to criminal gangs. David was a veteran of New Zealand’s toughest prisons.

But over the past six months, The Salvation Army has helped David start afresh and put his past behind him.

Tiya was conceived during the two years David was on the run from the law. Today the pair are a family and David’s home detention for drug offences is about to end, which he says ‘officially’ severs his connection with crime.

Having tangled with the authorities from the age of 10 and after getting involved in the drug scene at 15, David is determined Tiya will have a loving and secure childhood.

His decision to make the break with his past came during a recent prison term. ‘I was sitting in Paremoremo maximum security on a recall having just done a big jail sentence.

I’d been on the run for two years and I was looking at another 10 years or more, and I was thinking, 'I’m sick of being this person.' Then a Catholic nun invited him to the prison’s weekly chapel service.

David turned to the Bible to provide some of the inspiration and guidance needed to change his life. He also noted the work of Salvation Army prison chaplains and the high regard prisoners had for them.

On his release from prison, he went back to the church he attended as a child but found it difficult to go straight. In June, finding himself in financial difficulties, he approached The Salvation Army for a food parcel.

‘For some reason the Sallies had always been on my mind because of their presence in jail,’ he says. ‘They were there to help you and didn’t hold your past against you when all around you is mayhem and restriction.’

The Salvation Army helped out with food and David became involved in the spiritual side of the Army’s work.

He also works as a volunteer two days a week at the food bank. He says the warmth and encouragement he received made his transition an easier process than if he had tried to struggle through it alone.

‘I was very high up in the drugs industry. I had the Mercedes, the penthouse apartment, the boat, the bling, you name it, but I was never satisfied,’ he recalls. ‘Now I have nothing except my daughter, but I now feel emotion again. I know what love is again and I’m happier than when I had all those trappings and trimmings.’

Maxine

Welfare

Maxine had a triple heart bypass in 2003, leaving her vulnerable. The following year her husband was admitted to a hospice, but sadly he passed away five days later.

Maxine says her husband’s sudden death was such a shock that she had a nervous breakdown and became depressed.

‘I was going downhill fairly quickly,’ she says. ‘My daughter, who lives in a different town, rang The Salvation Army and asked if someone could come to see me.’

Maxine was in a poor state emotionally and physically when a Salvation Army officer visited. She was living on a hill with lots of steps, which was only adding to her misery. She had a tendency to black out when climbing the steps, so had submitted to staying home and was becoming increasingly isolated.

The Salvation Army worked with Housing NZ to find her more suitable accommodation. Then Salvation Army volunteers helped her shift house.

Living on a pension was also difficult, with Maxine finding money increasingly tight. Skyrocketing food prices were making things even harder. The Salvation Army helped her get through the worst times with food parcels, and also helped her establish a budget.

She is also receiving regular counselling, which is helping her come to terms with her grief and other life events. As well as the loss of her husband, Maxine is coping with the death of her sister just before Christmas and the loss of a number of close friends.

Maxine says that while she still suffers from anxiety and panic attacks sometimes, she is feeling a lot more upbeat about life. She credits her improved mood as having a positive effect on her health.

‘The Salvation Army has helped improve my outlook on life. I am very grateful at every step of the way for the help I have received,’ she says. ‘I don’t think I could have survived doing it on my own.’

Jolene

Employment Training

Jolene struggled at school and left at the age of 16, but her dream of a career remained.

After her son Kaleb was born the following year she realised that to take control of her life, achieve her career goals and support her family, she would need to do tertiary-level study. But lack of high school qualifications, along with parenting responsibilities, stood in the way.

So Jolene enrolled in a Salvation Army Employment Plus course in mid-2007. The ‘Step Ahead’ course delivers NCEA-level study for two hours a day, four days a week. Jolene is also undertaking a life skills module that includes practical talks and field trips.

Jolene, now 19, says it’s good to meet other young mums at Employment Plus and share experiences in a supportive environment. She is allowed to take her young son to class, and is excited about getting the qualifications needed to get into polytech.

‘I used to be a really shy person, but the course has helped me to be more confident. I also feel more positive about life.’

Jolene says that it can be quite lonely being a single mum, but Salvation Army staff members are always available to talk about family issues. Salvation Army Community Ministries helped Jolene recently when she and Kaleb moved into their own place.

‘We were struggling with finances because of all the costs of moving, but The Salvation Army provided several food parcels along with a second-hand fridge, which really helped out.’

She has also been going to church at The Salvation Army, enjoying the people contact: ‘All the people are so friendly, and going along has helped me to be a better person.’

Sixteen-month-old Kaleb just loves going to the weekly Salvation Army music movement class where he has the chance to interact with others his own age in a fun environment.

Jolene expects to complete her Step Ahead course at the end of the year before making the next move in her education. She really appreciates the help she has received from The Salvation Army and feels positive about her family’s future.

Ernest

Welfare

Ernest receives an invalid’s benefit, is single and lives alone. He is just one of the thousands of people The Salvation Army is helping through its network of Community Ministries centres, which includes food banks, budgeting advice and social support.

Ernest had struggled to get by for some considerable time. ‘Being on a benefit makes it especially hard to cope with rising prices,’ he says.

He first came to The Salvation Army about two years ago when he got behind on his electricity bill. He was short of money and needed help.

‘I had heard from a friend who had got help a long time ago that you could get a food parcel from the Sallies if things were very tough,’ he says. ‘I found coming to the food bank very humbling. I had to make my mind up to make an effort.’

The Salvation Army talked to Ernest about his situation and gave him a food parcel to meet his immediate need.

‘I found it helpful to get food assistance – it would have been tough otherwise.’

Salvation Army staff also gave Ernest budget advice and made sure he was getting the financial support he was entitled to. They were available to negotiate with business firms on his behalf.

Explains Ernest: ‘I had bank charges that were making things harder. My budget advisor talked to the bank and they agreed to reduce the charges.’

In appreciation of the support he received, Ernest has been giving back by volunteering at The Salvation Army twice a week, sweeping the courtyard and emptying rubbish bins.

‘Things would have been grim without help, so I am really grateful for the assistance I have had from The Salvation Army.’

Jennifer

Welfare

Jennifer had just given birth to her fourth child when she heard her ex was struggling to make ends meet. Jennifer contacted The Salvation Army to request a food parcel for him.

A Salvation Army officer visited Jennifer to explain that her former partner would need to come in himself. As they talked, Jennifer’s story came out.

Although her former partner had been out of the family’s life for a while, he and Jennifer were thinking about getting back together. But because the family had suffered through his alcohol and gambling issues for years, Jennifer was still worried about the future.

He would spend money meant for the family to buy alcohol and to gamble, refusing to admit he had a problem, she says. ‘They tell you they have it under control, but they just lie all the time. He could be abusive when he didn’t get his own way. I would be scared and worried, but I didn’t know how to get myself out of this situation.

‘I knew that the situation was not right or normal, but I didn’t have the support and help I needed to get through.

The Salvation Army offered to support Jennifer as she explored reconciliation with her ex. ‘But he didn’t admit he had a problem and didn’t want to make any changes,’ Jennifer recalls. ‘It came to a point where I had to make a decision for myself and my children.’

When she decided to move on, The Salvation Army gave practical help, continuing to mediate between Jennifer and her former partner. Salvation Army officers even opened up their home so she could stay with them and get a break from daily pressures.

‘I lived in an unhealthy relationship for five years, but now I have support and good friends and a chance to move on in my life,’ says Jennifer. ‘The Salvation Army gave me a new outlook on life and showed me that it is about community and supporting other people at the times when they are low.’

To give something back to her community Jennifer now volunteers on a Salvation Army ‘ambulance’ that patrols Invercargill on Friday nights. The converted ambulance, stocked with food and hot drinks, reaches out to young people, the lonely and the homeless on the streets.

‘You get to have a good chat with them to see where they are at. It makes me realise that you can do something to help others,’ Jennifer explains.

Because The Salvation Army helped her in so many ways, Jennifer has a more compassionate outlook towards others. ‘That made me feel so grateful and appreciative that there are still people who genuinely care about others and what happens to them in the long-term.

‘I love the Sallies—they are like my family. I know that they are always there to help.’

Craig

Court & Prison Services

I first went to The Salvation Army to complete 100 hours of community service. I was on bail for manufacturing methamphetamine at the time, facing nine serious charges and looking at life imprisonment.

Initially I helped in the food bank, fixed cars and did practical everyday things. After I’d finished my community service I stayed on as a volunteer for 10 months. It was a privilege to serve others through that place. It gave me huge satisfaction to make a change for good in strangers’ lives.

I still had to serve time for drug manufacture but because people at The Salvation Army had showed me a better way to live I asked to go into a faith-based prison unit where I learned the importance of grace, faith and forgiveness.

I now work in as a diversions coordinator in a district court. I use this as a platform to go to the prisons and do drug and alcohol assessments for The Salvation Army Bridge Programme.

I go into court cells and give out student loan applications, Open Polytechnic prospectuses and Bibles – the tools that people need to get out of their life of crime and addiction.

I’ve undergone profound changes, from being a career criminal to being able to make a positive difference to people’s lives every day.

It’s great to have found clarity. I can take all my previous negative experience and turn it around into something really good for others, to help them avoid the mistakes that I made.

I’d encourage anyone to go to the Salvation Army for help. They never give up on people - they can be trusted and relied upon.

Clay

Drugs & Alcohol

I’d reached rock bottom with my drinking. I knew I had to reach out and get some help. The Salvation Army stepped in and provided that help.

My life was complete chaos because of my addiction to alcohol. I lost my business, my home and my self-respect. 

I felt lonely, isolated and paranoid. I’ve left some serious debris behind in my life and hurt just about everyone around me.

Everybody fears tackling something that has been an issue in their lives for a long time. I was very fearful, but once I decided to tackle the issue, the Bridge Programme gave me the 24-hour support I needed to beat my addiction.

Understanding that help was available and meeting people who had similar issues in such a supportive environment finally gave me clarity about where I was trying to head with my life.

It’s been almost a year now since I had a drink and I’m slowly rebuilding my life. I’ve got my own place again and it’s a complete turnaround from where I was.

I’ve got my feelings back, I’m a more rational person, I’m not hiding behind alcohol any more and life is getting better in every way. This is almost entirely due to the Bridge Programme, which gave me the tools and the support to get things back on track.

Bradley

Drugs & Alcohol

When I first met The Salvation Army my life was in complete disarray. I had lost everything that I had ever worked for and I was facing a lengthy prison term. I was involved with heavy gangs, dealing drugs, and methamphetamine had taken over my life.

I felt I was at rock bottom. I had no self respect any more.

Everybody around me was affected. I burned people very badly, especially my own family and close friends. I ripped them all off, disrespected them and stole off them.

I was in court every second week for drug-related offences and The Salvation Army at the courthouse spent a lot of time with me.

I had no idea what to expect when I started talking to The Salvation Army at court, but I was open and very willing to change, because I was so sick of where I was. Although I had no capacity to feel anything much at the time, I knew I had to do something because things were so wrong.

My determination to change saw me fast-tracked into the Bridge Programme, and a lot of people seemed to show an interest in my welfare.

My family has been my best support network. Having my mother come to Recovery Church every Tuesday night and having one-on-one counselling sessions whenever I needed them has been a huge boost.

It’s been a year-and-a-half since I graduated from the programme. I’ve regained respect from my family and I’m getting on with my life.

Valerie

Drugs & Alcohol

Everything had fallen apart for me and my life was chaos. I came to The Salvation Army out of pure and simple desperation.

Alcohol had total control over my life and I realised that I couldn’t give it up on my own. I had absolutely no self esteem left. The realisation that I needed help is an uncomfortable feeling for a woman my age.

When I arrived, nobody judged me and I was treated with kindness and courtesy. There’s always that cynical edge where you think this can’t be for real, but over the 10 weeks I was here I learned that everybody was on my side. They just wanted the best for me.

I got my faith back and I got my self esteem back. I no longer had the daily fear which had come to rule my life.

From being a client I’m now a staff member so I can really understand how clients feel when they walk in that door. My job is to put them at ease so they’re not afraid, because we’re on their side.

Some of the changes you see in people’s lives here are amazing. When they come in they’re hurt, angry, desperate or depressed, but as time goes on they get a sense of community, and they just bloom like flowers.

It’s great to see the smiles and the self confidence come back. To witness that is just fantastic.

The Salvation Army people taught me how to live life in a different way and I’ll be forever grateful for that.

Joseph

Accommodation

I came here because I had nowhere else to go apart from family, and I didn’t want to be a burden on them. That’s why I came here for help.

At the time I was an alcoholic. Sometimes I’d be working, but my addiction to alcohol made it hard to hold down a steady job because I was always taking to the booze.

When I got here for the first time I was intoxicated when I entered the building, so I can’t tell you too much about how I was feeling at that moment – it’s a blurred memory. I was destitute and depressed.

At first I was sceptical because I didn’t know much about The Salvation Army’s role in helping me, but as time went by I became more easy and free going because I felt they were helping with my depression.

I’ve had great help from The Salvation Army since I’ve been here. Some people living here are in a similar situation to me. They help us get on with our lives better than going elsewhere. I feel more content than when I was living out there on my own.

One of the most important things is the medical assistance I’ve received. Recently I had a massive blood clot and I didn’t recognise the symptoms. Our resident nurse immediately sent me to the hospital to get treated.

Many men here have far better experiences of help than they would get out there from their friends or families because their families sometimes don’t understand the situations they get into.

Greg

Accommodation

I was at a very low point in my life when I came to The Salvation Army. I was an addict, and I’d been in prison for six months. I’d had enough of jail, had enough of my life. I needed change, I needed to rid myself of my addiction and I needed ongoing care.

Once I was here at Epsom Lodge I involved myself in running the kitchen, which kept me busy.

What’s great here is the family-style care that’s provided and the aftercare programme. Bruce has helped me set up my new life. I've got a full-time job. I've got ongoing assistance with my tax, sorting out the messy business that I had in my past life.

Huge changes have happened for me since I’ve been here. I'm not the same person. I've got a life now. I didn't have a life then, I just lived for my addiction.

I think you've got to put your trust in God and take each day as it comes. Be careful in your recovery which ‘wolf’ you feed inside yourself because quite often the addict can keep jumping out.

The only goal I have is to rid myself entirely of my addiction – those two wolves are still fighting inside me every day. I’ve been at Epsom Lodge in recovery for just over a year and I plan on staying on here a bit longer to organise myself, with aftercare, into the role my work calls for.

I'm stabilising things and getting a balance back in my life.

Bevan

Problem Gambling

I'd tried to give up gambling several times and each time I went back to it. I was desperate for some help.

It got to the point where I had a lot of debt and was unable to provide for my family. Any time I got any money in, I would feed it straight to the machines. I hated them and hated what I was doing, and realised that if I was to get back to a normal life, I had to give it up.

My family was badly affected. My wife was working 50 hours a week trying to pay the bills and make ends meet, and while she was out doing that I was wasting money on pokies.

It was hard for me to approach The Salvation Army. I was in a distraught state when I arrived, but was received very well and made to feel comfortable.

Group sessions worked really well for me. You can be honest with the group and get feedback from others as to their problems and how they deal with them, then check back week by week. It’s great to have this kind of support structure.

I'm now to the stage where I feel that I can trust myself again with money and not go gambling. I know it will take a long time for my family and friends to fully trust me again, but there’s a huge improvement in my life.

Once you’ve admitted to yourself you’ve got the problem, you need to get help.

The Salvation Army will be there for you – they make it a lot easier because it’s probably not something you can do on your own.

Charlie

Drugs & Alcohol

Every time I was drinking, alcohol got the better of me and I ended in court. The effects were devastating – family violence and assault. I realised I had to do something about it, it was a very big problem.

I was in the court cells when I met an old school mate of mine and he told me about The Salvation Army Bridge Programme.

I remember being a bit nervous when I walked in, but I thought anything’s got to be better than what was happening in my life at that time.

The counsellors were awesome, really open and genuine and I felt as though no matter what I’d done I wasn’t judged.

They work with you at your own pace – there's no pressure. They treat you like a person and not like a number.

Life's a lot clearer now that I’m free of dependency on alcohol or drugs. I’ve got my thinking back, I know who I am and I know I don't want to be the person I was.

I’ve got my relationship back together, my kids are doing well, I’ve got more motivation and I’ve now got plans and goals. I can see the future brighter than I've ever seen it.

If you want to make the changes, ultimately it comes down to you. If you keep an open mind and if you really want a change, you can do it. It really isn’t that hard.

The Salvation Army gives you self belief and the tools to work with. If you give it 100% then you can take 100% out – and that’s what The Salvation Army can offer you.

Cheyne

Drugs & Alcohol

I first came to The Salvation Army because I needed help with my methamphetamine addiction and I knew I couldn't stop on my own.

At that time in my life my main goal was to make a lot of money and I got involved with some dangerous people. It was like playing with fire.

By the time I came to The Salvation Army Bridge Programme I felt lost, confused and empty. I also felt a bit frightened because I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.

They were quite honest that the process of change would be difficult and that I'd have to go through a lot of changes and face a lot of things about myself. But they made me feel comfortable and accepted.

One of the most important things I've learned is that I can change – I don’t have to be stuck in the same rut. I'm motivated to change now that I can sense that I do have a future I can be proud of.

The Salvation Army has changed the way I feel about myself. My confidence has improved and, most importantly, I think that I'm a person who deserves to be loved and accepted. I never really knew that before – that people genuinely do care about me.

My advice to people who are seeking help would be to just take that step.

A friend once told me that the pain of staying the same far outweighs the pain of change, and I know how difficult it is to make that first step. I know the fear that you feel, but it's worth it – it really is worth it.

Tarnz

Drugs & Alcohol

I came to The Salvation Army for help because I was an alcoholic. I was desperate to get into a drug rehab programme. I’m now in recovery.

I’m a registered nurse and felt that I was burnt out. I was drinking more than I should have and I felt unsafe as a nurse, so I decided to get my life sorted out.

When I first came to the Bridge Programme I felt very lost. I hated everything about myself. I was a broken woman. They really cared for me and I felt safe here. Gradually I got my self-confidence back.

After time in rehab, I came to Employment Plus to work on my motivation and self-esteem. Through this process I found a love for art.

Along the journey I've rekindled a new relationship with God. There have been a lot of wonderful changes because of an incredible support network around me here, which make me accountable for my sobriety.

Julz, my Employment Plus tutor and friend, has been a massive support along this path. My self-belief has been restored. I've started to take my art seriously now; it's still a hobby but I have four artworks accepted into the Matariki Awards, which is amazing!

I've become a better person because of my faith in God. My outlook on life has completely changed.

I continue to move forward. I'm loving the fact that I'm a better mother now and a much better grandmother. I love my grandchildren immensely.

Vanessa

Youth & Children

I came to The Salvation Army because they supported me when I was a street kid. They had fed me and clothed me and they were always there.

So when I couldn't deal with my kids and I needed a break I came straight to The Salvation Army.

My kids didn't know how to socialise at all. Going away on a Salvation Army programme really helped us get to know other people. It changed the kids positively by letting them mix with children their own age.

Before they came here my kids were quite angry. I didn't know if they were angry at me, but I needed someone to talk to and this was the first place I came to because The Salvation Army has always felt like family to me. All my life they've been part of my family and they still are today.

The Salvation Army has assisted me with food and with my kids getting support at school. They've just got one of my daughters back into school.

My kids like the programmes at The Salvation Army and they've learned a whole lot about socialising.

They aren’t so angry now. They can go out and be good kids, happier and more open.

Yolanda

Accommodation

I wasn’t in a stable living situation so I wanted to come somewhere where I could be myself and get away from the dramas at home.

When I first arrived I was really nervous and cried. I wanted to go home. I’ve been here for about three weeks now, the girls are really lovely and the teachers are so nice. It’s a drama-free place and you can leave your stress behind.

In the short time I’ve been here I've learnt more about life, values, morals and decision-making.

I’m learning about being pregnant and what to expect being a mum, and about life because I haven't really done much before. I didn't finish school so I want to learn more, not just about pregnancy but about life in general.

I’m not sure about being excited about being a mum yet. I’ve had a really rough pregnancy. I’ve been hospitalised four times and have a lot of trouble with the dad, so I just hope I’m going to be a great mum. But it’s going to be hard.

One of the best things about being here at Bethany is learning about other people’s backgrounds and their experiences. They’re just so different from my own.
 
Already I feel much stronger since I’ve been here, mainly through the other girls’ support – they’re telling me not to fall back on my boyfriend and tell me not to text him.

To other people who are in the same situation I’d say Bethany is a great place. I’m glad I came here as everyone is so supportive emotionally. It’s just been great.

Holly

Accommodation

I came to the Bethany Centre because I had a methamphetamine addiction and couldn’t get myself into rehabs. This was the only place that would take me in.

I didn’t want to have a baby so young, I just wanted my drugs, so I was very scared when I arrived here.

At the beginning I remember being very staunch. I didn’t want help – I wanted to do it by myself. But at the same time I knew that I couldn’t. I was very standoffish, rude to everybody. It was just a big change for me as I was way out of my comfort zone.

My experience at Bethany was very different to anything I’d experienced before. I was very nasty for my first month, selfish and very aggressive, but I slowly came to love the place. It’s helped me through so much. I can’t thank them enough for all they have done for me.

I no longer have a fear of making friends. I’m a very confident person now and I class myself as a very good mother.

Since I left Bethany everything has changed for me – my attitude towards life, I no longer have drug issues in anyway, I have a happy and healthy son who’s 16 months – and I have Bethany to thank for this.

Bethany Centre is hard to come into, but it helps you with your issues. Bethany is there to support you. I don’t think they’d turn anyone away.

Gaylene

Welfare

I first came to The Salvation Army when things got really tough for me. I was at a very low point in my life and I wasn’t sure what to do or where to turn for support.

Things were really hard financially. I’ve got 3 children and I needed assistance with food. I guess we were really struggling at the time.

I wasn’t feeling too good about myself either and it was affecting my children, so I made a decision to come into The Salvation Army and speak to someone.

When I walked in I was really nervous and quite unsure, but when I sat down and spoke to one of the staff members it was great. I wasn’t judged at all. They made me feel at ease and I knew I had come to the right place. 

I’ve seen huge changes in my life since coming to The Salvation Army. My financial situation is getting better, I’ve met some amazing people and I’ve received great support along the way.

I’ve changed a lot since first coming here. I now come to church here every Sunday and have been for nearly two years. Recently I’ve been working as a volunteer, helping people when they come in looking for assistance, whatever their needs.

I would say to other people looking for help to definitely come into a Salvation Army centre – they’re great people, it’s a great place to be and we’re here to help.

Larissa

Youth & Children

The first reason I chose this particular Early Childhood Education Centre was because of one of its teachers, a lady called Carol.

I got to know Carol many years ago through my son. I liked her immediately and felt that this was the right place for my daughter Alesssandra to come. Carol loves my children unconditionally as if they were her own.

I’ve seen Alessandra grow into the gorgeous, confident little person that she is through guidance from Carol and all the girls here. They love her and nurture her potential.

This is an open, caring environment. The children my daughter mixes with are from all cultures and all walks of life.

Alessandra comes home fascinated with learning stories from different cultures, different outlooks on life and different ways of doing things, and I believe that the open environment and teaching policy here is great.

The Christian beliefs built into the day-to-day teaching and activities are a solid foundation for healthy adults.

I would recommend this centre to anybody, and already have to a couple of friends. Their children now also come here and are really enjoying it.

Christine

Welfare

Christine came to the notice of The Salvation Army Community Ministries late last year when she was still coming to terms with the emotional toll of her father passing away. On top of that, her relationship with her partner broke up soon after.

Christine was also having trouble keeping up with all the bills and costs of keeping a family together.

Christine says that it was a real surprise when she was given a Salvation Army Christmas hamper and her daughters also received presents.

‘The hamper was great because it helped right through the difficult Christmas period.’

Christine says that around that time she was short on cash and although able to pay her bills, she just didn’t have enough left over for food.

‘I had a real cash flow problem and needed help to cover all the costs of providing for my family. At first I didn’t want to take anything. It was hard to ask because I felt ashamed, but I felt a sense of relief afterwards.’

She now gives back by volunteering at her local Salvation Army food bank, talking to people needing help and issuing food parcels, as well as making appointments for people to see a budget advisor. She also volunteers one day a week at the Family Store.

Christine says that she used to be a really shy and quiet person, not open to anyone. But since being at the Salvation Army she has noticed herself become more open and outgoing.

‘It was a relief to get the worries out,’ says Christine, ‘I am much happier now and moving on with my life.’

Christine still gets help with the occasional food parcel, but feels she has come a long way since first coming to the Salvation Army for help.

‘The Salvation Army has done so much for my family and I – they are just wonderful people.’

Charlaine

Welfare

Charlaine’s marriage broke up. Her husband left with her young daughter, while she continued to care for their son.
 
‘I just wanted to curl up and die when my marriage broke up,’ says Charlaine. ‘I was an emotional and physical wreck – even getting up in the mornings was very difficult.’

Going through a custody dispute added further stress as well as legal costs to an already emotionally and financially fraught situation.

Charlaine says she came to the Salvation Army Community Ministries because she knew they could help.

‘I didn’t know what kind of help I needed and I just didn’t know what else to do. I came into the Salvation Army and burst into tears. I walked in as a broken woman. I couldn’t look the staff in the eyes without crying.’

Charlaine says that once she had sorted out a place to live, the Sallies gave her used furniture and helped with immediate food needs. They also gave her counselling support and enrolled her in a number of programmes to help her come to terms with her personal issues.

‘I was very angry but didn’t realise I was angry. The anger management course I did helped me to deal with my emotions in a healthy way.’

Charlaine says that she is still getting food parcels, but overall her life is now much improved. She now has access to her daughter and is working towards custody.

Charlaine does volunteer work for the Sallies, as well as some part-time employment that helps with the bills. She is also starting a commercial cleaning business that is giving her not only a direction in life but also the possibility of a steady income.

‘The Salvation Army has had a big part to play in putting my life back together. I still have a long way to go, but have come a long way.’

Kathryn

Welfare

Faced with the stark reality of no money and her children going hungry, Kathryn came to The Salvation Army Community Ministries for help.  

‘I was going through a bad patch in my life and had only $30 left, and no nappies or food,’ says Kathryn.

‘I was going through a partner crisis, had lost all my friends and was alone. I was really stressed.’

Kathryn says she was initially embarrassed to ask for a food parcel but felt that the Sallies didn’t judge her. ‘They just told me that a lot of people are in this kind of situation and I felt accepted.’

She then agreed to get budgeting advice, realising that learning how to make the most of her limited income was the best way for her to help herself.

Kathryn has made great strides with her finances. After getting a part-time job with The Salvation Army she was able to get off the domestic purposes benefit after many years.

‘It was a big achievement to get to a stage where I was not reliant on government assistance,’ says Kathryn who is now working at Salvation Army Community Ministries helping others in need and studying towards a university qualification.

‘I can use my experiences to help others and to give something back.’

Like most single parents, she doesn’t have much extra money and still struggles to get by when unexpected expenses come up.

‘I still need occasional assistance from The Salvation Army and it’s nice to know that there’s someone there who can help.’

Andrew

Drugs & Alcohol

Andrew abused alcohol for 12 years and was also a ‘social user’ of drugs. His lifestyle moved him away from his three children, and he hasn’t seen them since they were very young.

‘I couldn’t support myself and was on a benefit, but I could always find money for alcohol and drugs. I was hanging out with a bad crowd,’ says Andrew.

‘I kept my drinking to myself and didn’t realise that my life was getting out of control until I got in trouble with the police and ended up in jail.’

The Salvation Army has made a huge difference in changing his life for the better. It initially helped him to find accommodation. Later, he got emergency help with food parcels and clothing.

Andrew attended Salvation Army community meals, which not only provide nutritious food, but also an opportunity to talk to others with similar problems and feel part of a community. Salvation Army recovery church helped him get on top of his drinking problem in a supportive environment.

‘The Salvation Army gave me a massive encouragement and through their help I could see that there was another life to the one I had.’

Andrew later volunteered in the Community Ministries office that came to his aid—at first cleaning, then helping with picking up, wrapping and distributing Christmas parcels. He now volunteers at his local Salvation Army Family Store, which he sees as a great opportunity to get into a positive routine and give something back to the community.

‘It is a motivating place because there’s always something to do and being able to help others has lifted my spirits a lot. It really opened my eyes to people’s needs and helped put my own problems in perspective. I used to have no purpose, but I always wake up and look forward to life now.’

Betty

Seniors

As Betty advanced in years, it became increasingly difficult for her to manage on her own and her house began to fall into a state of disrepair.

The Salvation Army stepped in to help. They worked with Work and Income to access financial support.

After Betty was moved to temporary accommodation, volunteers set to work fixing up the toilet and bathroom, cleaning the carpet and generally making Betty’s house liveable again.

Betty was pleased when the Salvation Army offered to help.

‘I was very grateful someone was taking an interest and it has been nice to have company and people to talk to because I have been by myself for so long.’

Betty has recently moved back into her house, but the Salvation Army has set up an ongoing support programme. This will ensure that Betty is cared for and able to continue to live in her own home while preserving her independence, dignity and quality of life.

Salvation Army HomeCare Services will visit twice a week to help with housework and personal care, while volunteers assist with shopping and picking up essentials like medicine. Betty will also be provided with Easy Meals, which she can cook herself at home.

A Salvation Army van picks her up on Sundays to attend church and take part in church socialising afterwards.
 
‘I look forward to Sundays and the opportunity to meet other people,’ says Betty.

The Salvation Army have also arranged a placement for Betty at a local rest home where she can go twice a week to socialise with other people her own age and make use of the centre’s facilities.

Marie

Accommodation

Marie is the proud mother of six children. But five of her children are in care, leaving Marie with only Chilali to look after. 

Marie and Chilali were living in an intensive dormitory-style programme, but have now moved to a Salvation Army flat as a step towards greater independence. People can stay for up to half a year in the flats while doing life-skills programmes to help them integrate back into the community. A supervisor lives on site.

Furniture is provided and there are a range of practical courses aimed to improve life skills. Marie has just completed the positive lifestyle programme which covered issues like stress, loneliness, anger and depression, and boosted her self-esteem and assertiveness, and helped her set realistic goals. Other programmes include parenting, violence prevention and literacy.

Marie attends monthly meetings with current and former residents of the flats. The regular meetings provide an opportunity to share experiences and build up social networks.

Marie says she is enjoying the greater freedom that comes with living in the flat but at the same time likes to have help close at hand.

‘I feel good here,’ says Marie. ‘It feels homely and I feel welcome. I feel that I’m going in the right direction.’
 
Marie’s goal is to improve her parenting and life skills enough so that she can get her family back together.

‘Being on The Salvation Army programme will help me to make a case to show that I can look after my children and get custody back,’ says Marie.

‘If it was not for The Salvation Army then my daughter Chilali would not be here with me now and I would just be seeing her on visits.’

Leisha

Welfare

Leisha and her children lived in a cold damp house in an industrial area and the children were not eating properly. It was so cold that they went to bed early just to keep warm.

The family came to the notice of their local Salvation Army when one of Leisha’s sons started playing up at school. He joined The Salvation Army’s Sportzlife Programme, which helps turn around the lives of young people with behavioural problems.

A Salvation Army staff member visited the family at home and learned first-hand about their bleak situation. The Sallies set to work to help improve their lives in practical ways. This included chopping wood so they could keep warm and advocating to the authorities on their behalf for better housing. Leisha also went on a six-week Salvation Army cooking course, where she learned about healthy food, budgeting, and preparing quick, cost-effective and nutritious meals.

‘It’s not only good for them but also more filling. I feel I have more ways to use ingredients now and more diverse ways of using foods.’

Says Leisha: ‘It’s good knowing that there is someone there who can help. I can call up the Salvation Army and talk to them about issues and I feel more connected. The help we got has been pretty awesome.’  

Stephanie

Welfare

When Stephanie first came to The Salvation Army she was in debt up to her eyeballs.

‘I was in major debt and was not coping,’ says Stephanie. ‘The bills got out of hand and when I borrowed money from a debt collector thinking that would help me get out of debt, things just got worse. People kept calling to get their money.’

With a mountain of debt and a never-ending stream of new bills coming in Stephanie realised that she couldn’t manage by herself and sought help from her local Salvation Army Community Ministries office. A budget advisor assessed Stephanie’s financial situation, helped prepare a workable budget and kept her on track through regular meetings. The advisor also contacted Stephanie’s creditors and negotiated with them about the debt.

Stephanie received food parcels to tide her over the rough patches when there just wasn’t enough money in the kitty to feed her children.

‘Things like school uniforms, school books or school trips always popped up and brought me down, but I always felt I could come to the Sallies for help.’

Stephanie says that the encouragement and support she received along the way made a big difference and after a number of years she has now cleared her debts. Stephanie’s budget is still tight, however, and she continues to get budget advice to keep her on track.

‘If it was not for the Sallies I would still be struggling. They really are there for you and always know how to help. They are incredible people.’