The Courage of Second Chances
The Salvation Army of Greenville is a place for second chances. It’s a safe haven where people can come when they have nowhere to go, and they feel all hope is lost - because here, hope is alive and available to everyone.
Meet Shawn. Shawn is on staff with The Salvation Army as a monitor in the Men's Shelter. He works alongside Shelter Resident Manager Gonza Bryant to help men staying in the shelter get back on their feet. Before he joined our staff, however, he was a resident of the shelter himself.
Despite his modified mobility due to an amputated leg, Shawn was adamant about not receiving disability benefits from the government. He had work skills to offer, yet he was having difficulty finding sustainable employment due to previous negative life experiences and his physical limitations. Shawn needed a second chance, and he put in the work to establish boundaries and goals for himself to achieve.
After working hard and following his action plan, Shawn was able to purchase a three-bedroom mobile home to live in, as well as a truck. He tells other men currently living in the shelter, "If I can go from living under a bridge in downtown Greenville, to now owning my own place, you can, too."
He understands the difficulties people experiencing homelessness face in our community. "Oftentimes people assume someone is homeless because they choose to be, but that's usually not the case," Shawn said. "I wish more people could come to spend a day with us here at The Salvation Army to see what we do. I believe everyone would want to help more if they saw firsthand the assistance we provide."
Bright things can come from dark places if we dare to look beyond what’s in front of us to see the gifts someone can offer. The Salvation Army of Greenville believes in second chances, and we’re grateful for the support you provide that helps create them.
Pictured: Shawn shares his story of finding a second chance through The Salvation Army of Greenville.