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.’