COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant
Sara connected with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programming after losing her job due to COVID-19. She was determined to find work that bettered herself and the community – but also supported her transition back into the workforce.
She received assistance from the COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant to enter a work experience at the Jefferson Food Pantry. Her efforts helped the pantry greatly increase the number of guests they could serve.
Sara enjoyed her work and decided to continue her education in the Freight Broker Agent training at UW – River Falls. She also connected with mentors for additional industry knowledge.
Sara completed her training in April 2021 and was hired at the Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin (CACSCW) as a Food Bank Manager. Her work experience helped her gain the confidence and skills necessary to succeed on her career pathway.
“The Work Experience Program provided me with mileage reimbursement, a paycheck and an advocate – but most of all it provided me with hope and a path forward. The program gave me the flexibility to care for my dependents while I continued to pay our priority bills.”
Sara received the 2022 Aspire Award for her perseverance and achievements in WIOA programming.
For more information on Sara’s experience, reach her previous success story here.