From ‘gates of hell’ to ‘gates of heaven'

When Gloria and Richard moved to Colorado Springs from Las Vegas a few months ago, they arrived in town with nothing more than the Ford Escort they were driving and some clothes in the back seat.

Richard had lost his job in Las Vegas and later lost his disability payments for a bad back. Gloria’s disability payments for her bipolar disorder weren’t enough to cover the couple’s living expenses, and they were evicted from their home.

At a friend’s suggestion, they moved to Colorado Springs and sought help from the Salvation Army, one of 14 nonprofit agencies that receive donations from The Gazette/El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund.

“We had nowhere to turn, nowhere to go,” said Richard, 46. “I had a gold bracelet and sold it at a pawnshop to get a room for a couple of days.”

Only their first names are being used in this article to protect their privacy.

Paula Stock, the Salvation Army’s family services director, said the agency assessed Gloria and Richard’s needs: How did they get into their situation, why did they come to Colorado and what were their goals now that they were here?

“They were ready to kind of make some things better in their lives,” Stock said. “We looked at his job skills and ability to get a job and his motivation and her motivation to get back on her feet. She takes medication, and we just needed to get them to be a stable couple. I felt they were a good risk to assist.”

The Salvation Army gave them vouchers to use at the agency’s local thrift stores, which allowed Gloria and Richard to obtain an old bedroom set and living room furniture, among other household items. The stores had plenty of items from donations made by the public in the aftermath of this year’s Castle West Apartments fire, Stock said.

“You wouldn’t believe how we are living now compared to when we first got here,” said Gloria, also 46. “We’ve got draperies, towels, pots and pans, couches. The works. It was awesome. I’ve never been treated that way. I’m very, very, very thankful.

“I call it the gates of heaven,” she said of the help she received from the Salvation Army in Colorado Springs. “Where I came from was the gates of hell. To come here and get the services we’ve gotten is amazing. I never thought I’d have a helping hand like this. But they gave me one and it was an awesome one.”

DETAILS

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to The Gazette-El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund, send a check payable to Empty Stocking Fund to P.O. Box 400, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. Donate online at www.gazette.com or www.coloradosprings. com and click on the Empty Stocking Fund link. Credit card or stock donations can also

be made by phone, 476-1673. Donations to the

Empty Stocking Fund will be accepted until

Jan. 18.