Success Stories

My name is James Hardy, I‘ve been living at The Salvation Army for 7 months.

Before I came here I used drugs and alcohol to dull my pain and they had pretty much taken over my life. I got to the point where I was feeling worthless. Having grown up in a very abusive home, my life just never got better. I was ready to be done with it all when I realized I needed help. I went to the hospital and they transferred me to Our Lady of Peace. After eight days there I came here. I didn’t have to be homeless; it was a choice I made. When I left Our Lady of Peace I made the decision to come here. My goal was to stay clean and sober. I wanted to end that abusive chapter of my life. That was a huge step for me. I had been in active addiction since my early teens and I am now 46.

The Salvation Army gave me so much support. The staff has been wonderful to me, Mrs. Mitchell, Hank, and Cooper, who is my sponsor, and all the staff helped me. Those first days everything was so overwhelming for me, I was actually shaking. Everyone showed me that I was worth something and that I have something to bring to the table. Mrs. Mitchell worked with me and she helped me with the plan for my new beginning. Everything she told me has either come true or is coming true.

Before my time here, nothing mattered to me. I didn’t take care of myself.

I have grown a lot here. I have gained self worth and learned I am a person, not a number. I have intelligent things to add. I learned to take care of me. They have helped me to get food stamps, clothing, and they always believed in me. I have income. I’ve stayed clean and straight. I am medical dorm captain and can handle that responsibility.

I feel like I can give to others now. I had an experience a couple of weeks ago that helped me to see how far I had come. This young man in his teens came here, ordinarily teens don’t stay here, but it was late when he came in and he was scared. The Salvation Army made an exception for the one night rather than send him away. They assigned him to the medical dorm and I took him under my wing. I told him that he didn’t have to be scared. I let him know that he would not be put out on the streets.

The next day arrangements were made for him to go home. I was away at a doctor’s appointment when he left so he left a letter for me. He thanked me for my help, he said that I had inspired him and I had let him know that there are still people out here who care. He left his phone number and let me know that he was going back to work and he was willing to help me out any time.

It made me feel good to know that I was doing something to make someone else’s life better, just like the staff here had done for me.
I treasure the letter he wrote me. I will be getting my own place in a couple of weeks and the first thing I am going to do is frame this letter and hang on the wall.

The thought of getting my own place was a little overwhelming for me at first because I wouldn’t have the protection I have here at The Salvation Army. But the more I think about it I know it is going to be all right because it is going to give me the opportunity to become a volunteer here. I knew there was a reason the Lord saved me. This may just be it. I want to give back now, to let people know they are not alone.