Sometimes God places us in extremely unfavorable conditions to avert us from a greater punishment. When I came out of incarceration, I thought, “I’ve got to make changes now!”

Shawn was willing to do whatever it took to make that change. St. Vincent de Paul Reentry offered him their First Day Out services, providing Shawn with a ride from prison, some groceries to get him started, and also setting him up with a recovery coach. The SVDP Reentry Services Employment team sat down with him to help him highlight his skills to build his resume and gave him direct access to jobs. They showed Shawn that prison could lead to employment opportunities. “St. Vincent de Paul was with me every step of the way. Don’t be afraid to accept help as you adjust back into society, and don’t wait until the last minute. Fear can be a distraction, but SVDP can help. My pride was not enough to break my determination.”