VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — This might be the valley of dreams for many people, but there are plenty more who come here and realize it's tough to make ends meet in Colorado's Vail Valley.

Martin Kruse moved to the valley a year ago to work as a carpenter at the Four Seasons Resort construction site in Vail. He was making OK money, he said, but with the high cost of living he said he was barely staying afloat.

Before long he faced another hardship — his 22-year-old daughter needed to stay with him after having some troubles of her own. She had medical problems and was overcoming some drug problems and came to stay with Kruse in Minturn with almost nothing but the clothes on her back.

When he took her shopping at the Thrifty Shop in Edwards for some clothes, the employees there told them about the Vail Valley Salvation Army, located just up the hill.

Because Kruse's daughter needed surgery from a tooth-related problem that had caused the side of her face and head to swell, Kruse knew he needed all the help he could get.

“She had no insurance, and I didn't have the cash to get it rolling,” he said. “The Salvation Army made an initial payment — enough for the doctor to take it on, then the doctor discounted his fees.”

Kruse is so grateful for the help and now he wants to spread the word about the good things the Salvation Army does — he's hoping he can bring them more donations. He's also hoping to be able to pay them back when he gets work again.

“I don't know what I would have done without them,” Kruse said.

Vail Valley Salvation Army Executive Director Tsu Wolin-Brown said Kruse is not alone these days. Wolin-Brown said the organization helped 1,068 people in 2008, and in 2009 that number nearly tripled to 2,963.

“I was blown away (by the increase),” Wolin-Brown said.

Wolin-Brown said a lot of people might think the Salvation Army only provides things like food and diapers to families in need, but there's so much the nonprofit does that people don't know about like collaborating with nonprofits throughout the valley, like Swift Eagle Charitable Foundation, Vail Valley Charitable Fund, Bright Future Foundation, Catholic Charities and so many more.

The Salvation Army helps with utility bills, rent, prescription drugs and even medical equipment. The Shaw Regional Cancer Center gives the Salvation Army storage space at its facility for medical equipment like shower stools and wheelchairs that hold oxygen tanks. The Salvation Army loans out the equipment to people in need, but Wolin-Brown said they'll loan it to just about anyone, regardless of income.

Kruse said he got help with his daughter's prescription drugs and now that he's been laid off from his construction job at the Four Seasons, he said the Salvation Army has come through for him again.

The lapse in income meant Kruse couldn't pay his rent, but the Salvation Army covered what he couldn't pay. He's now in the process of moving to Fort Collins where he thinks he'll have a better shot at finding work.

“I'm kind of out of my league up here,” Kruse said. “There's so many wealthy people up here, but I don't know if they realize there are people here struggling.”

Kruse wants to stay in Colorado because his 5-year-old son lives with Kruse's parents in Loveland. Kruse wants to get on his feet again so he can take care of his son.

“My little guy is in safe hands with his grandparents, but he doesn't have his daddy,” Kruse said.

The Salvation Army's help is allowing Kruse to stay up here long enough to get a place in Fort Collins, where he can survive on his unemployment until he finds work.

“(The Salvation Army) is doing massive things — it's major help,” Kruse said. “I didn't know what to do, but I do have some room to stretch here now.”

Community Editor Lauren Glendenning can be reached at 970-748-2983 or lglendenning@vaildaily.com.