Success Story: Jerome Burton

Meet Jerome Burton

A retired U.S. Army veteran, Jerome Burton feels most at home when he’s giving back. Volunteering is his solution to staying engaged with his community, and he does so with Goodwill of North Georgia.”I’m a disabled vet,” he says. “I used to help out in the office back in the Goodwill career center, helping out with paperwork, filing and answering the phones.”

Burton proved himself a valuable worker, and eventually a Goodwill volunteer coordinator asked him if he was willing to take his involvement to the next level. An opportunity opened for a volunteer to help veterans access the available resources they need to join or rejoin the workforce, and with Burton’s history of service he seemed like the perfect fit for the task. “In the role I do a lot of networking with different organizations that have resources for veterans or are interested in hiring veterans,” he says. “I also try to assist them in trying to find employment, housing, transportation and in understanding their veterans benefits.”

Retired but busier than ever, Burton can return home each night knowing he made a difference in the lives of the many veterans who defended our freedom. To him, the reward is worth his efforts. “I just love giving back to the community and helping others,” he says. “Since I started this work I’ve assisted almost 100 vets. That’s its own reward.”