Community Spotlight Community Spotlight: New Year, New Start for Local Veteran Thanks to Area Nonprofits

SARASOTA/BRADENTON – A local veteran’s family was recently gifted with a chance for a fresh start in 2015, thanks to a partnership of Goodwill Manasota and Heroes Welcome Home.

 

Nathan Rohleder, his wife, Kara, and their newborn baby, Henley, were presented with a check for $1,000 from Heroes Welcome Home to provide one month’s rent and groceries. Rohleder served for seven years in the Army National Guard; the family moved to Sarasota after he returned home from deployment. Currently, Rohleder is actively searching for employment with the assistance of Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Services Program staff.

 

Heroes Welcome Home was founded out of a desire to help those who have sacrificed for their country. Tony Barrett, board president, and his wife, Kelly Barrett, board secretary, were directed to Goodwill to find a veteran who was looking to purchase a home but required some assistance. 

 

“Veterans, particularly those who have recently returned home, often find that purchasing a home is either financially difficult or impossible. Given the nature of their immense sacrifice, it is vitally important to support those heroes through the stability of home ownership,” said Tony Barrett, who is a local real estate agent and firefighter.

 

Heroes Welcome Home, which is entirely made up of volunteers, raised $1,000 and donated it to the Rohleder family, which was identified through Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Services Program. 

 

"People may not realize the difficult economic situation many returning heroes face as they try to re-enter civilian life,” said Bob Rosinsky, president and CEO of Goodwill Manasota. "Through Goodwill's Veterans Services Program and the support of area nonprofits such as Heroes Welcome Home, we are working to help veterans reintegrate back into civilian life and achieve economic stability. This is one way we work to reach our goal of honoring and recognizing the many sacrifices our country’s veterans make on our behalf.”  

 

Rohleder was grateful for the contribution, which was presented by the Barretts and Goodwill Manasota Veterans Services Program staff directly to the family. “I can’t believe how generous the people in this community are, and I can’t say how much this means to us. Now I can go out and focus on finding a job to provide for my family, instead of worrying about rent for January,” said Rohleder. “It isn’t easy to ask for help, especially when you’re used to taking care of everyone else. Goodwill definitely understands veterans, they understand that we want to find success but we have to learn to fit back into the civilian lifestyle. They have helped me with job leads and interviews, and this gift from Heroes Welcome Home is just icing on the cake.”

 

“We owe an extra debt to veterans because they have sacrificed so we don’t have to worry. When veterans return, it’s our duty and our honor to help them. That was our vision for this nonprofit – that veterans wouldn’t have to struggle in silence,” said Kelly Barrett. “Thanks to Goodwill, these veterans are finding assistance. We are proud to partner with another local nonprofit to help our heroes, and make their dreams of home ownership come true.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Goodwill Manasota

 

Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that changes lives through the power of work. With the sales of donated goods and philanthropic donations, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities and other barriers to employment by providing job skills training and employment opportunities. In 2014, Goodwill Manasota served more than 16,000 people, placed 688 people in jobs and assisted 520 veterans as they reintegrated back into the civilian workforce. Goodwill Manasota’s economic impact back to the community is worth $81.3 million. Goodwill is one of the pioneers of the reduce-reuse-recycle movement and this past year diverted 37 million pounds out of the landfill. For more information, visit www.experiencegoodwill.org.