FORT WALTON BEACH — Gwen Dennis is not one to ask for help.
The Oklahoma woman came to the area in 2011 to visit family, but ended up staying. Without a job, but with serious medical problems like lupus and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease she found herself needing assistance.
“The moment I walked into Salvation Army it was like family,” Dennis said.
Dennis was given a job at the Salvation Army’s warehouse and shop and throughout her multiple hospitalizations the nonprofit was there to help, there to support.
“I can’t tell you all the ways they’ve helped me,” Dennis said while taking a break from sorting clothing and ringing up customers on a busy Monday afternoon. “They helped me get furniture, pay for my utilities. I have good days mostly, but there are bad days - we all have them and Salvation Army is there for those days,”
Dennis is in the rare position of being able to extend a helping hand through the Salvation Army and being able to receive help from the same organization.
If a customer needs to talk, Dennis is there. She smiles through her work day and offers a kind word to everyone she encounters. She knows what the generosity of Salvation Army can do for someone and wants to extend the same love and passion.
“We go above and beyond to help,” Dennis said. “We try to help anybody and everybody with the spiritual, physical and mental.
“We have people out there that need and don’t ask, I am one of those. Pride gets in the way, but there are times when you need help and Salvation Army is there to help.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.
