U.S. Army veteran starts fresh
September 24, 2020
Army vet gets clean, becomes homeowner – thanks to HVAF
December 21, 2020HVAF Employment Team helps vet renew nursing license, win car
Despite all of COVID-19’s challenges , HVAF’s Employment Team hasn’t slowed down.
HVAF’s Employment Team Isn’t Slowing Down
“We didn’t stop, we didn’t slow down,” Employment Coordinator Kiara Walker said. “We were still able to get people placed, and get people employed and give them the assistance that they need.”
As Employment Coordinator, Kiara is in charge of the team’s five case workers. They help any veteran who walks through HVAF’s doors. Each case worker helps the veterans with interview prep, resume help, and job application assistance.
“Anything related to employment we are going to help them with it,” Kiara said. “And we are very individualized with those we are working with.”
After 3 years of being out of her career, HVAF’s Employment Team helped Theresa renew her nursing license and get a job at IU Health!
Navy veteran Theresa didn’t slow down either. She came to HVAF in June, after the Veteran Affairs Voc Rehab program closed due to COVID. HVAF and the VA are great partners, so they referred Theresa to HVAF’s employment program.
Theresa & HVAF
Theresa and Kiara began working together in June. Due to a grant HVAF received, the Employment Team financially assisted Theresa with renewing her nursing license. Theresa also need help with housing, and case manager Danny Park helped her enroll in HVAF’s Transition In Place (TIP) Program.
And before you knew it, Theresa started working full time and moved into her own place with her daughter.
“She was so on top of things,” Kiara said. “We moved so quickly.”
The only thing missing? A reliable means of transportation.
And now… a new car!
This past fall, GEICO reached out to HVAF and asked if there is a veteran who needed a vehicle. With Theresa living on the southside of Indy, and working downtown – the Employment Team knew it would be tough for her to drive on the highway each day with her current car.
On Veterans Day, GEICO surprised Theresa with a new car!
“When Kiara first told me, I was in a state of shock,” Theresa said. “It didn’t really hit me until it happened.”
Theresa said she is so appreciative of all of the support the HVAF Employment Team has given her this year.
“It has been awesome,” Theresa said. “They’ve all been awesome!”
Kiara said it meant a lot to see a frontline worker and single mother receive something so necessary for her and her daughter.
“There’s no better feeling than being able to assist someone who’s so deserving,” Kiara said. “Good people deserve good things to happen to them. And I felt like we were helping someone who deserved it.”
Our Employment Team cannot do what they do without the community’s support. Will you make a tax-deductible donation today so they can continue providing with interview prep, resume help, and job application assistance?