Jack* is a single dad with four teenage children. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2010 when his fleet was hit by an IED explosive. Although Jack is happy to be alive and back home with his children, he struggles every day with the effects of his injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Primarily, Jack had difficulty finding employment. It was challenging for him to transfer his military skills to a civilian job. After meeting with Mountain Resource Center’s Veterans Advocate, Jack began using the food pantry weekly and received assistance with rent and utilities to help stabilize his immediate crisis. He also accessed workforce services and progressed through classes. Staff helped connect him with a local employer who valued his military experience and offered him a position. Although Jack acknowledges that he may encounter on-going health issues, he has expressed feeling more secure knowing that Mountain Resource Center is there to support him.
* Client names have been changed to protect their confidentiality