Donja's Story: Finding Nourishment and Community

Life hasn’t been easy for Donja. In August 2022, his nine-year-old daughter passed away just days after her birthday. Not long after, his marriage ended. “I heard it’s kind of typical—when there’s a passing of a child, there’s often a divorce following that,” he explained. Struggling with grief and financial setbacks, Donja found himself without stable housing and eventually referred to The Salvation Army’s noon lunch program.

Since then, he has become a familiar face in the dining room. “I’ve been there pretty much every day you guys offer lunch, and you have very good people with very good souls working for you. I appreciate that,” he said.

For Donja, the meals provide much more than nutrition. “If you’re hungry and walking around, it’s hard to think calmly and clearly, you can be more angry. But when you come in, you get food, water, and a cool place to sit, and you feel people starting to calm down. Deb always leads a prayer, and you can feel the levity in the room. It really makes a difference.”

Though his career spanned 20 years in insurance before moving into photography and later gig work, today Donja sees his life in a new light. “Remember not to judge a book by its cover. Sometimes we’re deep thinkers. I’ve met so many good people. There’s a lot of love, and it’s really appreciated and felt by those that come into The Salvation Army and get that little bit of love. It goes a long way. It really does.”