Re-Entry Program at Damiano Center Receives Grant

DULUTH, Minn. — The Damiano Center received a new grant for their re-entry assistance project.

The Re-Entry Assistance project aims at helping those recently released from jail, prison, and treatment programs.

It provides things like new clothing and hygiene products.

They also can provide bus passes or gas cards for people to get to appointments and job interviews.

One of the main things they can help with is getting photo ID’s and birth certificates, which can be a huge hurdle as you can’t get one without the other.

“I’m really hoping that it will help people realize that they are worth moving forward in their life, that they may have made a mistake, but they don’t have to be their mistake. And because of this program, I feel like those things that maybe we take for granted, like being able to have new clothing, be able to have a photo ID or a birth certificate, giving people the opportunity to get those things, I think, is going to make a big difference in the success” said Lisa Forrestal, Administrative Coordinator at Damiano Center.

The center also highlighted their Clothes That Work program.

They provide professional clothes for interviews as well as workwear.

That program is separate from the grant, relying entirely on donations.