When Eric Shaw was younger, he witnessed his family falling apart. His mother passed away, as well as one of his sisters. Only a teenager, Eric found himself homeless. 

Eric found out about St. Patrick Center when another agency gave him a flyer. He came in and participated in employment programs, and was later referred to McMurphy’s Grill, St. Patrick Center’s restaurant job training program.

“I learned a lot of skills at McMurphy’s, like leadership and patience,” Eric says. “They taught me how to be a busser, a food runner and a server.” St. Patrick Center case managers helped Eric search for jobs, which led to his being hired on the same day as an interview, working banquets at a hotel. Since then, Eric has received three bonuses!

Eric says St. Patrick Center also helped him and one of his sisters with the supplies they needed to move into a house together. “Now I have a key to my house, and I can come and go as I please,” Eric adds. “I’m working on my next key, and that’s going to be the key to my car!”