Hope Triumphs Over Harrowing Story
Rebel forces in Sierra Leone publicly hunted Edward.*
“I kept moving from one place to another just to save my life,” said Edward, now a client at Branch I Food Shelf.
Edward narrowly escaped death when rebels attacked his village, capturing Edward, his father and friends. Edward watched helplessly as friends were mutilated and executed. In a miraculous moment of chaos, he escaped. Days later, Edward learned his father was killed during the attack.
After five years of hiding and fearing for his life, Edward was granted political asylum in 2003.
A New Life — and a Source of Hope
As he tried to build a new life in the United States, he learned his wife and daughter were killed in Sierra Leone.The staff and volunteers at Branch I quickly became his family.
“From the very first time I came here, I was welcomed. This place helped me with food, encouragement and hope,” Edward said. “That day really changed my life.”
Today, Edward uses the food shelf occasionally, but more frequently he comes as a volunteer. A job and his schooling give him added stability. One day, he hopes to return to Sierra Leone to establish an organization such as Catholic Charities.
“Catholic Charities makes it possible to give help. That’s wonderful. That saves lives,” Edward said. “I didn’t have hope anymore. But at Catholic Charities, I built up hope.”
Donations to Catholic Charities' food shelves support people such as Edward.
*Name changed for privacy
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