Diana, left, with Lois Deberry, executive director at The Salvation Army in El Reno, sitting on the couch she received.

Walking into Diana’s home, you wouldn’t know that this woman had been put out on the street with none of her belongings just a few months prior. But when Lois DeBerry, executive director at The Salvation Army in El Reno, met Diana on Christmas Eve last year, all that was in the home was the quilt Diana slept on.

After visiting with Diana, Lois leapt into action contacting The Salvation Army’s Family Stores in Oklahoma City for items for Diana’s home and on December 26, Lois delivered a bedroom suite, couch and dining room table.

“They just kept moving it in and moving it in,” Diana explained with a smile. “I couldn’t believe it because I thought I was just getting a bed frame.”

Diana is grateful and amazed by the generosity she’s received in her short time in Oklahoma. Originally from Colorado, Diana came to live with her daughter. When the arrangement dissolved, Diana moved in with someone she thought was a friend.

After witnessing abuse in the house, Diana told her friend she was looking for another place to live and that’s when she was attacked. This woman threw Diana against the wall and as she escaped to her bedroom, the woman followed her and began strangling Diana. The woman’s grip loosed only when Diana dug her nails into the woman’s arms.

Diana quickly left the house and found help at Holy Trinity Church where the Father got her a room. She visited with Turning Point on available resources and her next steps. After getting her apartment, Diana’s caseworker contacted Lois. After recovering some of her belongings and receiving the furniture from The Salvation Army, Diana’s apartment has been turned into a home.

Diana has faced many challenges since coming to Oklahoma, including losing her dog to cancer, but she hasn’t lost her joy. Working on budgeting and her finances, Diana is looking forward to the opportunity to minister to others through the greeting cards she makes for the church and friends.

“I’ve tried not to worry about anything because I know God’s going to take care of me,” she said with that same smile. “He has His hand on me.”