Christmas wasn’t always a joyous time for Sasha Myers.

The 42-year-old Wai­pahu resident suffered emotional and physical abuse as a child, including rape and molestation, and began using alcohol and crystal meth­am­pheta­mine in her early teen years. Later, during the 1994 holiday season, Myers’ boyfriend slashed her face and stabbed her repeatedly on her back, wrist and thigh.

"I was screaming for help. I remember seeing the blue and red lights and passing out," she said. "It was so bad that they covered all of the stainless steel in my hospital room so I wouldn’t see my reflection and go into shock."

Her troubles continued, and when the state’s child welfare agency took away her children in 1997, Myers finally decided to step away from her destructive life of drugs and crime.

"I was tired of living that life — being homeless, the criminal activity," she said. "I’d started dying inside."

Today she praises the Salvation Army for helping to save her life. She’s been drug-free for 16 years after participating in the nonprofit’s substance abuse treatment programs, where she confronted her demons, found mentors and learned the importance of giving back. Myers regularly volunteers for the Salvation Army, taking a special interest in the Angel Tree, which signs up donors at shopping malls to buy holiday gifts for needy children.

The Farrington High School dropout was reunited with her children, got her GED and earned a degree in psychology and a certificate as a substance abuse counselor. Myers works as a case manager at Care Hawaii, helping people who are reminders of her past.

"I love helping people. I had to find something to help deal with the trauma. You help people in need and just see their eyes light up," she said, noting that giving back eased her own feeling of emptiness. "I know what it feels like to be in a life where there’s no one to turn to and to have nothing."

Volunteerism has helped her healing process, and Myers said she was able to reclaim the Christmas spirit about four years ago, thanks to the Angel Tree project.

"It’s given me a light that I’ve been looking for a long time," she explained. "I never had a purpose, never knew who I was or where I was headed. I had to find my way. … Wallowing only makes things worse. I’ve endured lots of trauma, and it takes continuous work to keep moving forward. It’s such a blessing to help."

Her five children and husband, Scott, join her in the volunteer effort, and 16-year-old daughter Chelsea has become a regular helper for the Salvation Army. "We wanted to give back for what the Salvation Army has given our whole family," Scott Myers said.

He uses his personal truck to pick up and deliver gifts for the Angel Tree and assists in other ways. "They’ve helped out so many people in our lives. They’re the first place I think of when someone needs help," he said.

More than 56,300 people in Hawaii were served by the Salvation Army during the holidays last year, according to Victor Leonardi, divisional special events and volunteer manager.

The agency’s major holiday drives include the ubiquitous red kettles — staffed primarily by volunteers to collect donations used for emergency assistance, children’s programs and substance abuse clinics — and Angel Trees that allow donors to choose paper angels and fulfill children’s gift requests. Holiday meals are also served.

Maj. Jonnette Mulch, a Salvation Army corps officer, has witnessed transformations like Myers’ on a regular basis.

"Sasha gives up her lunch time to come and help the other staff. She’s always helping people she doesn’t even know," Mulch said.

The kindness and generosity shown by Salvation Army volunteers "never cease to amaze me," she said. "These people have been through so much and are still able to cope with life, continue to improve and make a difference because they are thankful that someone was there for them."

"It does my heart good."