Jaymarie

If you walk through the doors of The Salvation Army, chances are you’ll happen upon one of Geneva Commanding Officers, Capt. Luis and Nydia Martinez, busy at work, finding a way to help those who need it most. Their efforts are so important for the people of the Geneva community. People like Jaymarie…

Jaymarie is a single mother who came from Puerto Rico searching for a better life for herself and her two children. When she arrived at Geneva this past winter, she found herself in a nightmare situation. As a non-native English speaker without a high school diploma, finding a steady job was going to be a battle. “I had no idea what to do, I was so lost!” she said. With some financial help from Social Services and welfare, she was able to pay for food and rent while searching for employment and taking care of her children. But as winter ended and no job was in sight, she knew she needed more help.

In Geneva, over 22% of Spanish speaking people live at or below the poverty line. For single mothers and female heads of households, that percentage nearly triples. The Salvation Army is one of the only agencies in Geneva that offers programs specifically designed for Spanish speaking people, by Spanish speaking people. For families like Jaymarie’s, The Salvation Army of Geneva can be a helping hand in a time of need.

After learning about The Salvation Army from a representative at the Department of Social Services, Jaymarie approached Lt. Luis and Nydia Martinez. Hearing her story, they immediately set out to help her and her children step onto a path of self-sufficiency and success. Jaymarie began attending the English Second

Languages courses offered at our location at 41 North Street, learning the basics of the language as well as key words and phrases to help during her interviews. They also helped her with food, emergency assistance, pastoral care, and even took time to review and edit her resume.

For Jaymarie, this generosity made her feel at home. Jaymarie’s family members are active participants in Salvation Army programs including the afterschool Homework Help program and the music education program. In April, making use of all the information she learned from her ESL classes, Jaymarie began what she hopes will be a growing role with a small business in town. And just this past month, Jaymarie managed to start building a savings account!

“The Salvation Army is like family to me,” Jaymarie concluded. “I’m happy to be here!”