Robbie Finds Stability and a New Beginning
“I have always been a creative, hardworking person, from when I was a little kid learning how to put bikes together to becoming an electrician and earning three associate degrees.
“However, I was also living with an addiction to heroin.
“I spent years in and out of prison as I struggled with addiction. But the last time I went to jail, Judge Charles Burns learned about my background and invited me to participate in the (W)RAP Program, a rehab program that was an alternative to a prison sentence.
“I spent a little over three months getting sober in the county jail and another three months going through inpatient and outpatient programs at Haymarket. I remember how horrible I felt going cold turkey the first 12 days. They were the hardest 12 days of my life. That is what motivated me to never get high again.
“When I was in recovery and ready to move back into my apartment, Judge Burns introduced me to Cara. I was skeptical at first because I had been in job training programs, and they never led me to a job. But once I got here and saw how much Vicki, Jesse, and the whole team cared, I was sold.
“In the Transformations classes, I learned there was so much more to life than getting high. I had been stagnant for a long time, but now I wanted to grow. I was determined to take all the information I learned and not just get a job but keep a job too. I learned everything about showing up and showing out: how to dress, how to work as a team, and how to get stuff done. But most importantly, I finally believed I could go places.
“Eventually I started working on a Cleanslate crew. I established myself as a good, dedicated crew member and moved from cleaning the curbs to picking up and organizing the trash bags in the truck.
“I was proud of my work because my efficiency supported our crews and made a big difference in decreasing how many times we had to stop and empty the trucks. I also felt a sense of community by bonding with my crew supervisors. Even though I don’t work at Cleanslate today, we still keep in touch.
“I kept up my work at Cleanslate until Kelly on the Employment Services team told me I’d be a great fit to work at Grainger as a Warehouse Associate. It was a good opportunity for a lot of reasons, but a big one was that Grainger provided transportation to and from work. I didn’t have my driver’s license or a vehicle then, so this was a big deal.
“When I interviewed, they were very accepting of my background. I told them my addiction was all in the past, and I was working hard to make a change and do better. They offered me the job, and it felt amazing. I got to celebrate by ringing the bell at Cara!
“I immediately loved the people at Grainger. We work hard, but we have fun doing it. At Cara, I learned the importance of teamwork, and I was able to come in ready and willing to help my teammates. I did such great work scanning shipments that they helped me get certified to become a forklift driver.
“The best part of my job is that it helped me become self-sufficient. I was able to get my driver’s license and buy a car. I don’t have to worry about having enough money to pay my rent. I can afford everything I need. It also helped me reach the (W)RAP Program’s graduation this coming December. After that, my record from the past five years will be expunged. It is going to feel so good to get my record expunged because people won’t hesitate to take a chance on me for future opportunities.
“With the support of the (W)RAP Program and Cara, I have stayed clean, I am working a great job, and I have stable housing. Now I am able to focus on my long-term goals like getting my bachelor’s degree and raising my credit score. I am just so grateful!”
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