Do More 24 is Today!

Today, Wednesday, May 19th, is Do More 24, the 24-hour online fundraising event in the DC area. You can make a difference today to help Jubilee Jobs applicants find jobs by making a donation by midnight.

Your donation would help applicants like Ken, Helen, Jasmine, & Carolyn below find jobs.

Applicant Spotlight: Ken B.

Ken, age 58, is homeless and has severe dyslexia that was never addressed in school. When he came to us in January 2020 he apologized over and over for not being able to fill out his Jubilee Jobs application. Despite this limitation, Ken had a steady work history including 10 years as a custodian at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. He came to Jubilee Jobs with a goal – to find work. Neither dyslexia nor the pandemic were going to stop Ken. After many months, and with the help of his job counselor and the numerous volunteers who created a resume and submitted online applications on his behalf, Ken was hired at the Giant grocery store in Van Ness. He is absolutely delighted!  Now employed, Ken has a new goal of moving out of the shelter and into his own room.

Applicant Spotlight: Helen K.

Helen came to the United States from Eritrea in 2015 because there were very few jobs and she was seeking a better life for herself. Currently, Helen works at Woodbine Rehabilitation in Alexandria, Virginia as a housekeeper. Although it takes her one hour by bus, Metro, and foot to reach her job, she is never late and always ready for cleaning the 18 rooms assigned to her. Before working at Woodbine, Helen loved her housekeeping job at George Washington University student housing, but lost the job in August 2020 when her company’s contract was terminated due to the pandemic. With her excellent work history and references, it should have been easy to find her another job. However, COVID-19 made its way into every aspect of life. It was not until November 2020 when Helen was finally hired at Woodbine Rehabilitation for $10.50 an hour. When we called the rehab center to see how it was going, the supervisor said, “Wonderful. We need more Helens.”

Working for a little above Virginia’s minimum wage takes unique dedication, especially during the pandemic. As an essential worker in a vulnerable job, Helen was given proper protection and safety support. But after several months, her hours were cut, making it necessary to find a place to live with a lower rent. She did not want to leave Woodbine where she has developed friendships with the residents, but she could not afford to stay with fewer hours and low pay.

We assured Helen that we would help her find a job with better pay as soon as the economy opened up. We worked to find her a job in DC, where the minimum wage is $15 an hour, and two nursing homes in DC called for interviews with Helen as soon as they received her resume. In response to one hiring manager’s question “Tell me about yourself”, Helen responded, “I am a hard worker and always on time. I love to work and I help the old people when I have time.” She is an employer’s dream! She will soon be hired closer to home.

Until then, Helen will continue to provide excellent service to the persons living at Woodbine. No matter where she works, she always brings her best.

Applicant Spotlight: Jasmine M.

Jubilee Jobs applicant Jasmine says that finding a job in the food service industry has “made sure that I am able to provide financially for myself and my family and to stay productive during the pandemic”. She has referred others to Jubilee Jobs and says that it “has been a great resource for me. They will continue to help you find a job, but also a job that you like.”

Applicant Spotlight: Carolyn G.

Jubilee Jobs applicant Carolyn takes pride in her work as a dietary aide for the elderly at Sibley Hospital. She says, “It gives me joy to be doing something for the seniors. We will all be old someday. I have most respect for them.” Carolyn’s journey to getting the job was long, and she only met her employer in-person after seven weeks of applications, interviews, and background checks. While she enjoys her work, eventually Carolyn would like to find a position working with the deaf so that she could use her sign language skills.