Cedar Rapids program tries to connect veterans with jobs

CEDAR RAPIDS — Donnell Williams had five job interviews March 19. He hopes one of those works out before his unemployment benefits expire next week.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy who served in Iraq, he is looking for work with the assistance of Ready to Serve, a new organization run from the Iowa Veterans Welcome Center in Cedar Rapids.

The organization, housed in the Welcome Center's location in the Veteran's Memorial Building on May's Island, aims to connect veterans like Williams with local employers.

'I've met a lot of guys who have quit looking for work,' said Ready to Serve founder Charles Elias. 'I'm not asking for a handout, I'm just asking employers to give us consideration and a chance at their business.'

Existing programs like Home Base Iowa, signed into law by Gov. Terry Branstad in 2014, encourage employers to hire veterans. Marion was declared a Home Base Iowa community in November after 60 companies pledged to hire veterans.

Ready to Serve takes things a step farther, Elias said, by matching specific veterans with specific job openings. The organization does not charge veterans for the assistance.

Ready to Serve also will act as a temporary employment agency for veterans. Companies looking for temporary help may call Ready to Serve, which connects them with veteran employees. The goal, however, is long-term jobs.

The motto of the Iowa Veterans Welcome Center is veterans helping veterans, said Roger Wiest, president of the Iowa Veterans Welcome Center. The center already offers a food pantry for veterans and provides clothing, along with being a community center.

'We're trying to make this a one-stop-shop,' he said.

Ready to Serve also will offer resume writing assistance and interview preparation.

Veterans and reserve military members may come into the welcome center to fill out an application for the program. Elias will sit down with them to discuss their experience. He will then look for employers seeking those skills.

'It's going to be a lot of groundwork, but as veterans, we're used to that,' Elias said. 'Nothing is easy.'

Williams, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is supporting his teenage daughter after a divorce, said he hopes employers recognize that veterans are disciplined and hard working and often hold significant training in technical fields.

'Sometimes the military is better than college,' he said. 'Some veterans come out in the civilian world with disabilities, but they know how to work.'

The details   What: Ready to Serve

Where: Iowa Veterans Welcome Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 50 Second Ave. Bridge, Cedar Rapids

Phone: (319) 826-2010 or (928) 230-3033

Contact: iavetswelcomecenter@gmail.com