STORIES OF EMPOWERMENT: Jewery’s Story
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. For Jewery, a season of hardship—including divorce and personal setbacks—sent him down a path he never expected. “I was kinda in a rough spot,” he shares. “I started making the wrong decisions, ended up incarcerated. One challenge led to another.”
It took hitting a low point for Jewery to realize he was ready for change. “I decided to take a better path,” he says. “If you start doing the right things, everything starts to fall into place.”
That shift in mindset set the stage for what came next: a connection with The Salvation Army Sarasota and the opportunity to join the Pathway of Hope program. It was a turning point.
“They helped me so much—helped me secure an apartment and gave me structure,” he recalls. “But more than that, they cared. Having someone care about you and your situation, and about you getting on the right path—it really helped.”
As Jewery committed to change, he started seeing the impact not just in his own life, but in the lives of his four children. “When you believe in yourself and actually follow through, everything changes. Seeing the look on my kids’ faces when we got our place—that meant everything.”
Today, Jewery and his children are in a safer, more stable place. He continues to move forward, building a future grounded in faith, action, and hope. “The Salvation Army was a real blessing for me and my children. I couldn’t be where I am now without you guys. I really appreciate it.”
Every day, The Salvation Army impacts lives by walking with individuals through their most difficult seasons—and into a future filled with hope. We believe in second chances, restored dignity, and the power of hope. Transformation is possible—one step, one opportunity, and one story at a time.