Mother. Soldier. Provider.

The service – or maybe more accurately, “serving” – runs in Hopelink client Heather Moran’s blood.

Heather is coming up on her 20th year serving in the Army Reserves. She follows in the footsteps of her father who served in the Navy. Heather’s Army Reserve job is helping soldiers returning from war get the medical, education, mental health and other services they need to readjust to life back home. Outside of the army, Heather is a nurse with nursing home and hospital experience. All of this put Heather on the “serving” end, helping others. None of it prepared her for being on the receiving end, getting help from Hopelink.

Depending on whether she’s on active duty – as she has been since 2005, due to the Iraq war – or whether she’s in a civilian job, and depending on what else is going on her life, Heather’s financial situation fluctuates. Sometimes she’s able to pay her mortgage and other household bills for herself and her two children – Rachel, 5, and Ryan, a special-needs four-year-old. Sometimes she falls off the edge financially and unpaid bills start to pile up. That’s when Heather turns to Hopelink.

“I am not proud that I need help,” Heather said. “I would much rather not have to rely on Hopelink for energy assistance or school supplies or Christmas presents for the kids, or come to the food bank. The first time I came to the food bank, I came after work and was the only person there in uniform. People were really looking at me and it made me feel odd. I have had to get over those feelings because Hopelink has relieved a ton of worry and anxiety for my family. By having Hopelink in my life, we are moving forward.”

Because she is a single mom with an income, Heather doesn’t qualify for DSHS assistance or food stamps or any other state or federal programs. However, there are times when Heather’s family falls into the abyss that exists for people who make too little to cover all their bills but too much money to qualify for most aid programs. Heather has accessed the energy assistance programs once to pay her power bills, received gifts at the holidays for her children a couple of times, obtained school supplies this year for her kindergarten-bound daughter, and visited the food bank a number of times.

A couple of months ago, my dad suggested we work out a budget,” Heather said. “He wanted to see where my money went so we looked at all my bills. Dad was surprised because he thought maybe I could be smarter with my money. I am not frivolous; I just have lots of expenses. Dad sat back and shook his head. There was nothing he could say or suggest.

In Heather’s current assignment as a Post-Deployment Health Re-Assessment Coordinator, she meets quite a few soldiers returning from war who are also on the edge financially. Heather’s main job is to ensure that soldiers and their unit commanders understand and follow the Army’s requirement that soldiers have a physical, mental and emotional health assessment within 90-180 days of returning home. She helps ensure that assessment happens. Heather also is tasked with giving the soldiers information about all the services available to them here, whether those are programs specifically for soldiers or programs open to everyone. That includes social services, and on several occasions, she has referred soldiers to Hopelink for help.

"Whenever I talk to soldiers who live in Hopelink’s service area, I always bring it up,” Heather commented. “I use myself as an example, because if I can get the courage up to ask for help, anyone can.”

Coincidentally, Heather’s favorite part of her nursing and Army jobs mirrors what Hopelink has done for her and so many other clients.

“When I took care of the nursing home patients, I built relationships with them,” Heather explained. “It was rewarding to get close to them and know that I was helping them keep clean, healthy and more comfortable.

“In my Army job,” Heather continued, “I love knowing that each soldier I talk to doesn’t walk away empty-handed; they all walk away with knowledge, resources. Hopelink does these things to, too. But with Hopelink there’s also an open door, and if I need to talk, they’re always ready to listen.”

Heather’s Army Reserve assignment has been extended through October of 2009. She isn’t sure what will happen then. Maybe she’ll be released from active duty and can look for a higher-paying job back in the civilian sector. Or maybe she’ll be activated again, and be back in a precarious financial position. The uncertainty is hard.

“Off and on I’ve started selling some of my stuff to make some extra money,” Heather said. “I just sold 20 years of Army uniforms for $100. Selling my home is not something I want to consider. I honestly don’t know if I may have to resign from the army after almost 20 years so I can look for a better paying civilian job. On the other hand, every year in the army means more money for retirement.”

“Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?” Heather continued. “Logically, I know there is, but sometimes emotionally I don’t feel like it. I keep thinking that I wouldn’t be getting so many financial and other challenges thrown at me if I couldn’t handle it.

She laughed, and then added, “That obnoxious quote about taking one day at a time is so apt in my situation.”