The Power of Community

When Tiffany’s son Tommy was diagnosed with cancer— just four days after his second birthday—her world changed overnight.

‘Tommy was diagnosed with cancer, and it’s been a very rough road since then,’ Tiffany shares. ‘Because I’m on my own, I’ve had a lot of help from you guys, which has been nice—especially because it takes the pressure off.’

The journey has been anything but easy. Tommy’s eight months of intensive chemotherapy left Tiffany emotionally and physically drained. The second year brought even more hardship. He developed a serious infection and spent eight weeks in hospital. ‘I literally didn’t think he was going to make it,’ Tiffany recalls. ‘And then he made it through—but we had nothing.’

That’s when The Salvation Army stepped in—not just with food, support and practical items but with compassion and understanding. ‘It’s not just random stuff. It’s meaningful. We are worth it. We were thought about,’ says Tiffany.

Tiffany found more than material support—she found people who genuinely cared and could empathise with her situation. ‘I was so panicky about bugs and stuff… the support worker would drop things to my house or bring it out to the car. Just stuff like that was very considerate.’

The Salvation Army’s support extended beyond food. ‘They helped call up WINZ and get things reduced. She would advocate for me, which I didn’t know you could do,’ Tiffany says. ‘They reduced the debt payment so I could have a little bit extra each week.’

And the help was always there, no matter the day or the need. ‘Even if I had food on Monday and had nothing on Friday, you would still give me something. Some weeks are tough. Other weeks are better. But they’re always here. They don’t turn you away.’

Tiffany appreciated how the team got to know her family and tailored their support. She emphasises that it’s more than just food—it’s connection, care, and hope. ‘You’ve got people you can reach out to—even just to talk. Because there’s things you don’t know, like with the power and stuff. That does help.’

Tiffany’s story is one of strength, love, and the power of community. ‘If you’ve got hope, you’ve got something,’ she says.