Free employment kits given to women veterans

“Employment and self-care packages will allow women veterans to feel prepared going into a job interview or their first day on the job and empower them to take charge of their future and feel confident entering the workforce,” according to a news release from Catholic Charities of Central Texas, which organized the event.

As part of the charitable organization, St. Michael’s Veterans and Service Member Services distributed the kit from their Killeen location at 2901 Saint Francis St. On the first Tuesday of each month, the organization holds a class to explain the programs available to military veterans.

On Tuesday, there were several women veterans, who each received an employment kit, as well as presentations from the Samaritan Center, Legacy Square and the Texas Veterans Commission.

In the announcement, officials identified the need to help women veterans find work.

“The unemployment rate for women veterans nationally is 3.1%, compared to 2.7% for men. According to the Texas Veterans Commission, Texas has the highest population of female veterans in the nation, with over 190,000 female veterans. We at Catholic Charities of Central Texas can confirm this employment need as we receive 2-3 calls a day from veterans seeking financial assistance, usually due to employment difficulties, – according to a release from Catholic Charities of Central Texas.

One of the women who received a bag Tuesday was Yolanda Woods of Killeen, a dual-service veteran who enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Los Angeles in 2000.

“Back then, women generally could choose a duty station, and I missed my chance at a place in California, so my next choice was Japan,” Woods said. “I served as a flight attendant on the USS Essex until 2003 when I transferred to Florida on shore duty and became an aviation accountant.”

By 2005, Woods was out of the military trying to decide what options lay ahead for him. She was interested in becoming an aviation mechanic, but after returning to her hometown of Beaumont, she was unable to “make things happen.”

Later, she decided to join the military, which she knew could help her with educational benefits.

So she enlisted in the US Army in Beaumont and was assigned to Fort Hood, now known as Fort Cavazos. There she worked in food service until her release in 2012.

That experience, Woods said, sparked a passion to start her own catering and vacation rental business.

She is currently employed by HEB in the warehouse as a production inspector in the Temple area. Since starting at HEB, she has applied for management and other senior positions, but has so far not been selected.

“I have three young children, ages 4, 8 and 10, and a typical day means I wake up around 3am to get the kids ready for the day, take them to childcare and then go at work at Temple until 4 a.m.,†Woods said.

Then, she drives back to Killeen to pick up the kids and take them to school by 8 a.m., then back to work until her shift ends at 12:30 p.m.

This summer, the kids are part of the YMCA camp in Killeen. Woods is also studying for a master’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health as she works part-time at her holiday rentals. She hopes to develop these interests into the catering business and be self-employed, but knows it will be a lot of work.

“Having this employment assistance package means I can present myself as a serious professional woman with a chance to make the connections I need to get my business off the ground,” Woods said.

There were 11 other women who received kits; however, not everyone was able to attend the program on Tuesday. Woods encourages every female military veteran to seek out the services that are available.

“You don’t know what you’re capable of until you have the resources to bring your ideas to life,” Woods said.

For more information about Catholic Charities of Central Texas, go to www.ccctx.org.