Recipient Stories
Hazel G. - Hazel, a recently divorced mother of two young children living in a townhouse in Prince William County, Va., called The Salvation Army in a panic two days after New Year’s Day. Her husband had left the home and was no longer sending financial help while she had been laid off from her job at the end of December.
The weather was turning colder, she was two months behind on her heating bill and was staring at a disconnection warning from her utility company. The next day WAFF was able to pay all that was due on her bill, and The Salvation Army helped arrange a job interview while she was in the office. She called back the next week and, with gratitude, said she had been offered a new job and that she and her children were warm and secure in their home.
Paul O. – Paul has lived in Washington, D.C., since his discharge from the U.S. Army in 1993. He had planned a career in the medical field and had become a medic while in the Army. A veteran of the first Gulf War, he had turned to drugs and eventually could not hold a job as his life became one of unending poverty and despair.
Paul had lived on the streets as one of Washington’s homeless for more than a year before finally entering a six-month residential drug treatment program. Over those six months, he not only overcame his drug habit, but found renewed hope working part-time in a clinic. His job became a full-time position when he graduated from the treatment program. He was able to move into his own apartment, but the first month’s rent and security deposit took all his savings and left him with a small debt.
When bills for utilities, telephone, food, transportation and other necessities began arriving every month, Paul needed help. He heard about the WAFF program from a co-worker and applied for assistance with his heating bill at The Salvation Army’s office in southeast Washington. The help he received from WAFF helped stabilize him financially and keep him focused on his goals of recovery and toward making a contribution to our society.
Maria and José S. - Maria and José are both senior citizens living in Montgomery County with two children in college. José developed a heart condition a few years ago that does not allow him to work. Recently, Maria was diagnosed with a kidney condition that does not allow her to work either.
The family was barely surviving on the Social Security disability payments that they were receiving. Maria and her family came to The Salvation Army to apply for WAFF heating assistance. The WAFF energy assistance grants they received have aided them in being able to pay their mortgage. As a result, WAFF helped them get through the tough times and allowed them to stay in their family home of more than 25 years.
The individuals in the photos above are models and do not represent or depict individuals who provided testimonials.