Harvest 2026: Matthew's story

Matthew (Keighley) shares why Harvest matters to him and the impact The Salvation Army has had upon his life.

‘You know, every day I can’t wait to come down just to see what else has popped through,’ says Matthew. ‘I’ve got some British red and green chillies in this one here. They’re going to be for the café.’ 

Every Harvest offering helps make The Salvation Army’s mission possible and, across the territory, your Harvest gift is helping people find hope in unexpected places.

One of those people is Matthew in Keighley, Yorkshire. 

‘I were in and out of rehab for alcohol,’ he explains, ‘and I were, like, you need something to do, because I was just walking around the park for two hours a day in my own little world.

‘That’s where things can go wrong. So I pushed myself to come down and, when I got here, I were like, “This is for me, is this.”’ 

Keighley Salvation Army is a church and busy community hub, and a daily reminder that God transforms lives. 

‘I saw that they were doing a cooking programme,’ Matthew continues. ‘So I did the cooking and then they asked me to come and do the food bank, which I did for a full year. 

‘And then they said, “I’ve got some disused land out the back, would you like to grow some things on it?” And I said, “Well, I don’t really know much about gardening. I’ll try my best.” 

‘I recycle everything I can use, basically, like that pepper plant there, that’s got flowers on it, that's growing in an old Wellington boot.

‘I’ve been growing these and they’re called cucumber melons. And everyone said they’re impossible to grow in the UK. Well, I’ve got quite a lot as you can see.

‘Do you know what? It’s absolutely mind-blowing. This place has changed me, the way I am, the way I feel about things. It saved my life because without this and without helping out at The Salvation Army Keighley, 100 per cent I believe I’d have gone back to drinking.’