Stories

Bruce is a veteran. He has come to the CENTER after a bout of depression, and a string of being turned down for jobs he is overqualified for. After his service he finds that life is not what he thought he would come home to. He is now trained in a field where there are no jobs, and with his pain level to manage, his only option is to live off disability and veterans’ benefits. He finds these are not fulfilling and limiting to say the least. He learns of the CENTER.

His intake person is Ben. Ben greets him with a hearty handshake, a wholehearted Thank you for service, and a glimmer of hope. Bruce is taken aback; he has not received this level of respect since he joined the service. Ben has been at the CENTER for several years and knows all the benefits he can offer to Bruce. Ben knows that Bruce can be paid in INSTANT BARTER trade, and it does not affect his benefits at all, it is considered volunteer work. This will allow Bruce to find his purpose in life, get the services he needs like counseling, mentorship, even massage to allow him to be more proactive in his health (using massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, even hypnosis to start) and manage his pain with less drugs. Bruce has a lot of computer skills and an aptitude to teach. He is assigned to work at the Charter School teaching computer skills to advanced students. He is also assigned to work with the Elderly teaching them simple computer basics, and also anyone needing tutorship. He is assigned to work with Tony and his mom, Sarah (a domestic violence family that has come to the CENTER). Tony needs role models, and a little additional help with his computer training in the school. This is a win win-win. Tony learns how a warrior thinks. Most warriors value human life above all else and would die rather than hurt a woman. This gives Tony some valuable lessons above his class studies. Bruce learns to mentor, and how important that is in the life of a young man. (If you think back to your valued mentors, you will see how important this lesson is, if you have never experienced it, we suggest you come stay at the CENTER.)

Bruce helps Sarah to set up her books and build her website. Basic computer skills necessary to run a business. Sarah thrives under the tutoring and mentorship of a man who wants nothing from her, values her as a person and mother, without any ulterior motive. Bruce is doing all this work to pay for his housing, and health care needs, among other things he needs.

Bruce can do all these things without letting go of his veteran’s benefits, or his disability, allowing him a different/ better lifestyle. This changes his life for the better, to be able to have all the services he needs without letting go of his safety net. This is real change. Bruce finds his way back into society. Able to manage his pain without drugs and mends his family ties. If you have ever come across a person who has come from a warrior situation, the missing step is the integration and retraining, all services Bruce readily finds at the CENTER.