What a Great Day to be able to connect one of our Hire Ground participants to employment. We met Bruce when he was homeless living in one of our major shelters in CNY. Every Wednesday we pick up participants who live in the shelters of CNY. Each shelter has a point person who assigns participants who are willing and eager to work. Well Bruce was one of those candidates who needed a Hand Up. One of IMFK’s Hire Ground missions is to get folks who are ready and willing to work connected to employers in our community who are willing to give folks a second chance at life, one of those employers is Peace Inc. I met Sally Ward (Director of Energy and Housing) while doing a delivery of a IMFK gift basket during the holidays. Sally spoke to me on her front stoop and said if we had any participants ready to work that she would be willing to set up an interview. One requirement needed would be to have a valid drivers license. I reached out to JD one of our Care Managers to ask if we had anyone who has made the turn away from addiction and was ready to re-enter the work force. JD mention Bruce but his only stumbling block was that he needed to reinstate his license and that it would have to be transferred to NY from Fl. JD was able to assist Bruce by navigating the DMV site and finding out what needed to be done. Bruce needed to take a 6 hour defensive driving course pay some fees and he would be all set. The problem is we were in the middle of a pandemic but we made it happen. JD got Bruce down to IMFK had him sit at his computer and do the 6 hour course. Bruce went to his interview and was offered employment. Bruce now needed tools for the job so JD went with Bruce to purchase all the tools he needed so that Bruce could be successful at his new JOB! I am excited to say that Bruce is now living in his own place has his license back and is working a full time job. Thank you Sally and Peace Inc. in believing in 2nd chances and showing Bruce he was not Invisible. Thank you to YOU our SUPPORTERS for your financial gifts. With out you we would not be able to do these out of the box scenarios, together we are Building Hope and CHANGING LIVES!

Its a Hand Up not a Hand Out