“St. Patrick Center is here to help you in whatever capacity.”

Karl was a victim of the 2009 recession. “I lost my job and tried various avenues to find work,” he says. “I was running out of resources.” As a Navy veteran, Karl was directed to St. Patrick Center, a place he initially thought helped only those who were homeless. However, because of the agency’s reputation for helping veterans find employment, he decided to give it a try. After meeting with a case manager to discuss his skills and interests, Karl enrolled in SPC’s newly formed Veterans GO! Green program, which trains veterans in green industry jobs.

Through the program’s curriculum, Karl learned of the growing business of textile recycling and found an interest in the concept. He approached Remains, a used-clothing recycling company and one of the companies affiliated with the Veterans GO! Green program, to see if the company had any openings. As fate would have it, they did have an opening and Karl was hired on St. Patrick’s Day! He now manages the fiber-shredding machines at Remains, turning old cloth material into new, reusable textiles.

As for the future, Karl’s supervisor Paul Wight says he expects great things from his new employee. “I see him being someone who can grow with us,” says Paul. “And with his background in management, we can see him managing all of the people we will be hiring down the road.” Karl is grateful to be back at work and feeling that he, again, has a purpose. “It is so nice to have a place to go to and earn your own living. I would recommend St. Patrick Center to anyone who is down on his or her luck.”