John’s Story
From Darkness to Light
FOR decades, John believed he was ‘just an addict.’ His life was shaped by trauma, addiction, and loss – beginning in his teens as an escape from an abusive father. By the time he met The Salvation Army, he had lost everything: his wife, his children, and his home.
But John was ready for change.
Meeting Dee, a social worker at The Salvation Army, was a turning point. ‘She said, ‘You’ve come to the right place. We can help you.’ I nearly cried on her lap that day,’ John recalls. Determined to rebuild his life, he cycled 40 kilometres daily to attend an addiction programme.
The memory of his three-year-old saying, ‘It’ll be okay, Dad,’ kept him going. With Dee’s unwavering support and wraparound services – including budgeting advice and food assistance – John began to heal. His wife Jess, also on her own recovery journey, stood by his side. Together, they worked toward reuniting their family.
A Christmas to Remember
After years of hardship, John and Jess were finally back together with their children. But Christmas loomed, and they had nothing extra to give said John. ‘What child doesn’t get excited about Christmas? We were desperate to make it special for Olly and Charlotte.
‘The first thing Dee did was to organise food parcels. That was a huge help. The Christmas parcel was extra special. We had a roast meal, with a pavlova. And they made sure there were some nice gifts for the kids. It’s incredible, the donations people give. It meant a lot to the kids.
‘We’d been so stressed leading up to it but Christmas Day, all back together again, with food on the table and presents to unwrap. To see the kids’ faces – it’s hard to put into words the difference it made, having support at that time. Let’s just say this, it would be a lonely world without The Salvation Army.’
More Than Blankets
Winter was brutal. Living first in a freezing caravan, then a damp house, John’s mental health suffered. ‘Winter relates to darkness,’ he says. Heating was a luxury they couldn’t afford. Blankets were their only warmth.
But The Salvation Army stepped in again – with food, clothing, financial mentoring, and counselling. ‘They don’t just give you food and send you away,’ Jess says. ‘They help you live, not just survive.’
Giving Back
Today, John volunteers with The Salvation Army, helping others just as he was helped. ‘I took for years, now I’m giving back,’ he says. Jess volunteers too. ‘It’s not all about the money,’ she adds. ‘It’s about helping someone accomplish something.’
This Christmas, you can bring hope to families like John’s.