It’s said that The Salvation Army has a ministry of presence, of “being there’” in times of need. 

Help when a whole town hurts

On The Scene, Spring 2010

Earlier this year, the local meat processing plant in Young (NSW), which employed around 300 locals, suddenly closed. The impact has been devastating on workers as well as small businesses and service providers throughout the town, according to Laurel Merrin from The Salvation Army in Young.

As well as organising referrals to counsellors and practical support, The Salvation Army in Young worked with a range of local organisations to provide financial information and re-training help.

Laurel says, “There are few jobs available, so it wasn’t easy for people to just go and find other work.”

Many of these folk had never asked for assistance before, and some had actually supported The Salvation Army in better times. Laurel says: “(So) many men have sat here in tears. We had a man who was getting food from supermarket bins to feed his family, too embarrassed to ask for welfare.

“He sat on the chair with tears dripping down his face. We were able to say ‘you don’t have to feel like a charity case ... The Lord asked all of us to help one another on this earth, and if we don’t do it, we fail to do our jobs.’”