Miracle in her mailbox

For so many of us, these past several years have not been easy. Millions of good, hardworking Americans have lost their jobs. Sarah Galvan and her husband did. But they are proof that hard times can yield great blessings!

Did they give you hours for next week?” Sarah Galvan asked hopefully as her husband hung up the phone after speaking with his supervisor at the granite company where he worked.

But Adrian shook his head sadly. “The work is drying up,” he sighed.

Sarah clutched her sixmonth- old daughter to her chest and listened to the chatter of their four other kids in the next room, a feeling of dread in her stomach. While she was out on maternity leave, she’d been told that she was being let go from her job. Money was already tight. Now Adrian would be out of work, too?

“It’s going to be okay,” Adrian said. But the look in his eyes said something different. And suddenly, the Hometown, Illinois, mom was panicking: How will we pay the mortgage? What if we lose our house? What will happen to our family? Miracle in her mailbox Though they’d never been able to put much in savings, Sarah and Adrian had always gotten by. Yet now, as Adrian scrambled for side work, their bank balance was dipping dangerously low.

“We have to get rid of some clutter,” Sarah tried to make her voice light as she gathered gently worn clothes, outgrown toys and electronics to sell. But when she and Adrian slipped off their wedding rings to pawn, she couldn’t hide her tears.

Soon, disconnection notices from the gas and electric companies were piling up and Sarah had to swallow her pride and embarrassment to visit a food pantry. And then . . . “You have just two days to come up with the money,” a mortgage representative warned.

Where will we go? Sarah worried. Always hoping for the best, she hadn’t even let anyone know about their dire situation.

Finally, she confided in her parents, and they were able to scrape together just one mortgage payment.

“Thank you!” Sarah cried. Yet what would happen when they couldn’t pay next month? Would they cram everyone into her parents’ place? Move into their van or a shelter?

Then one day, Sarah dragged herself to the mailbox— and in the stack of overdue bills, she found an envelope with Sarah Galvan scrawled on it in unfamiliar script.

Sarah opened it— and stared in shock. There was no note, only a money order. And it was enough to cover the back payments on the mortgage and pay some bills!

Who would do this? Who could give us such a generous gift?

And there was more— when Sarah called each company to pay the mortgage and outstanding utility bills, she was told, “Ma’am, your account is paid up-to- date.”

“This is a miracle!” Sarah and Adrian beamed, sending up prayers of gratitude to the anonymous angels who had saved their family. And right then and there, Sarah vowed: Someday I will pay it forward. Everyone needs help sometimes! With

their debts cleared, Sarah and Adrian used the money to start a home improvement company. And two years later, with their family’s fi nances under control, Sarah decided it was time to make good on her promise, so she created Almost Home, an organization to help the homeless and needy.

She began by visiting homeless shelters, bringing purses fi lled with quarters and laundry supplies. She even had hairdressers visit, because when you look good, you feel better.

“This is awesome!” the women smiled, hugging Sarah, who created a Facebook page (Almost Homechicago) to post what folks needed most.

One woman contacted Sarah after securing an apartment with the help of the housing authority. Though she now had a roof over her head, she had nothing else.

Thanks to donations, within 24 hours, Sarah delivered a kitchen table, a couch, pots and pans— and stocked her cabinets!

“I can’t believe you did this. Thank you!” the woman wept in gratitude.

For another single mom unable to make her rent, Almost Home was a way to keep her and her kids in their home. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart! she wrote.

Words cannot adequately express our thanks for helping us with our car payment. My husband was out of work for two months due to his health, and we’d exhausted our savings. Your generosity got our feet on firm footing once again! God bless you! penned another recipient. “You’re a lifesaver!” “You’re my angel!” “You’re the Mother Teresa of Hometown!” people call Sarah. Yet she insists she’s nobody special.

“Everyone needs help sometimes,” Sarah says. “To help folks get back on their feet is a wonderful feeling and the best way possible to thank the angels who helped us when we needed it most!”