Shawn Daniels came to HRDC wanting to make changes to his life and was interested in getting his Commercial Driver’s License. His father was a truck driver growing up so he has loved being around semi-trucks for most of his life.
He enrolled in the SNAP Employment & Training program mid-November after being referred to HRDC’s job training department by the Office of Public Assistance (OPA). SNAP E&T helped him register for CDL training courses so Shawn could get his license and start driving. Despite feeling overwhelmed with the amount of coursework, he passed the written exam and has been CDL certified since April 2024. He now works at Sysco Wholesale Restaurant Food Distributor as a delivery truck driver.
Shawn also came to HRDC with a significant barrier in his way: homelessness. He expressed how frustrating it was trying to get his life on track when he didn’t know where to stay next. “…having to walk everywhere with just a backpack and be lagged down with that burden every day.” While this barrier significantly impacted him, Shawn was determined to succeed no matter what obstacle so he could make his loved ones proud. Since experiencing this firsthand, he found a passion for helping others going through similar situations he faced. One of the first things Shawn does when trying to help someone is finding out what they desire to do with their life and that overcoming those barriers to get to that goal are worth it in the end. “You can surmount that obstacle…you can overcome it.”
Our team was always willing to help Shawn if he needed help, whether it was helping him understand paperwork or trying to find a place to stay. Each time Shawn entered the building, he was met with kindness and encouragement from our team. His case manager mentions how humble and open minded he became throughout her time meeting with him.
After overcoming those obstacles, Shawn is now at a place in his life that he has a place to live, a car to drive and a great paying job.
