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The holiday season is a time with many heartwarming tales. During a recent interview, WSET staff was able to hear the moving story of our recent OJT participant, Holly Cole. A story of hard work, determination, and the goodwill of others.

Holly’s story starts as many others do. Holly met Workforce Solutions East Texas staff members at a local event. “I was staying at the House of Hope, a homeless shelter for women,” Holly says. “I went to the Homelessness Resource Day that they (WSET) had and that’s how I found out about the programs they had there at the Workforce Center.” Holly entered the WSET office with the hope in her heart that something new and exciting could open doors for her. Holly enrolled in the WIOA program in hopes of finding a means to support herself. A career she could see herself doing for many years to come. Holly’s file soon landed on the desk of WSET Work Experience Coordinator, Shametrice “Mimi” Easter, who began to search for an On-The-Job Training opportunity that fit Holly’s experiences. Holly was excited for the opportunities to come but shared with WSET staff that she had a barrier. One that many East Texans face daily, a lack of transportation. “I needed something within walking distance because I didn’t have transportation at the time,” said Holly.

Mimi continued her search for adequate positions for Holly, keeping in mind Holly’s barrier to employment. She narrowed her search to companies within walking distance of Holly’s home. During her interview, Holly told staff that Mimi has been a blessing to her during this process. “She’s helped me in any way she possibly could.”

Soon, Mimi was in negotiations with Brett Marshall with Smith Fasteners/ AFC Industries in Longview. Smith Fasteners has long been one of WSET’s top supporters of Work Experience and OJT opportunities in the Longview area. Brett was more than happy to take Holly in and begin an OJT agreement.

Holly began to work for Smith Fasteners, each day becoming better and better at completing her tasks. “In the time that we’re in, it’s hard to find people that do work,” Brett explains. “At the same time, I do ministry on the side. My big focus is how do you help people. How do you give people second chances?” At the time, Brett had no way of knowing that his two missions as a representative of Smith Fasteners and as a ministry worker, would come together to help his new employee.

Holly made great improvements over the coming months. In a recent interview, Brett praised Holly on her work ethic. “She is by far the best person we’ve had in the whole program (OJT). She’s fantastic. Whatever you ask her to do, she does it. She’s a model worker for us and what we’re looking for.” Although Holly was thriving in her workplace, she still had the barrier of transportation towering over her for the first few months of her OJT agreement. As Holly continued to come to work each day with no complaints or excuses, Brett and other members of staff were moved by her dedication.

Everything fell into place when a friend and a fellow ministry worker contacted Brett with the mission of finding someone in their community to bless that month. “The first person that came to my mind was Holly,” says Brett. Teary-eyed, Brett continues, “In our ministry, we try to help people. And so, when he called and said let’s do something, Holly was the first person that I knew that needed a vehicle.” The ministry members and some of Holly’s colleagues band together to gather the money to purchase a vehicle from one of the manufacturers that supplies vehicles for Smith Fasteners. The company had a vehicle that was due to be retired from use. The normal procedure is to send it off to be auctioned and a new vehicle is purchased by the company should it be needed. The vehicle had been with the Smith Fastener location in Longview during the entirety of its use. “We knew the whole history of that vehicle, so it just made sense.” Brett contacted the manufacturer to see if a deal could be struck and he, the members of his ministry, and coworkers came together to purchase the vehicle from the dealer.

Not only did they help with the purchase of the vehicle, but they also arranged to assist with paying for the fees associated with transferring the vehicle in Holly’s name and the initial purchase of insurance for the vehicle. “This had nothing to do with Smith Fasteners. The company is aware of what was done, but the company did not purchase this vehicle,” Brett elaborated. This was simply good people banding together to provide and care for a member of their community who earned it. The holiday season truly is a season of giving back. This heartfelt story proves that the spirit of the holidays is alive and well in Longview.