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Now through November 10th
This is a virtual fundraiser where you can choose to donate and support our Veterans as they transition from crisis to self-sufficiency. 100% of the proceeds go directly to VTC to allow us to continue offering critical programs such as housing, food, case management and more to Veterans in need.
The fundraiser will conclude at our
Salute to Veterans Jamboree on November 10, 2024,
featuring a meet-and-greet event with the Veterans who graciously shared their stories. Join us in the Liberty Lounge at 2:00 PM.
We are incredibly grateful at the enthusiasm and courage shown by our Veterans when presented with the possibility of participating in this campaign.
Below are Veterans currently in VTC's program and those who have graduated. We asked them to write about how VTC has impacted their lives.
These are their stories...
Harlon Lacapa
Since my arrival at VTC I have been met with nothing but kindness and professionalism. The LTORR staff made every effort to ensure that I had a smooth and stress-free transition from incarceration back into society. I was given a wealth of information that enabled me to obtain all the necessary documents to start rebuilding my life here in Marina.
I am thankful to Tyler Burrola, my first case manager, for his knowledge and guidance in helping me navigate the various agencies I needed to work with. Without a doubt, the reason I was able to hit the ground running was thanks to the established LTORR curriculum. Jennie Nestler deserves a great deal of credit for building a well-organized program. A curriculum which starts with a place to lay your head and a Food Pantry that removes the anxiety of where your next meal will come from. For those of us who lacked personal clothing, the VTC clothing locker offered a valuable resource to help me dress for success. I would be remiss, however, if I didn't acknowledge the invaluable support of Travis Johnson, the Job Development Coordinator. He was instrumental in helping me create a sterling resume that led to me securing employment here at the VTC. As I see it, there is no other organization I could have chosen that cares so deeply about the Veteran community, even the ones who carry the stigma of incarceration. I know this first-hand because I am one of them. VTC has also provided me with various opportunities to engage in volunteer service on VTC’s behalf. I take great pride and joy in serving other Veterans and the many supporters of VTC as well as the community. Finally, I would like to render a salute to my current case manager, Adrianna Kosinski who continues to provide excellent guidance and genuine care and concern for my success in moving from crisis to self-reliance. In her role of serving others, she is the team-leader of my goal-oriented transition plan and never fails to provide the support I need for completing my mission. In closing I thank all VTC leadership, staff, and its supporters for their commitment to ensuring that VTC continues to be an effective and successful resource within the
Veteran community.
I am thankful to Tyler Burrola, my first case manager, for his knowledge and guidance in helping me navigate the various agencies I needed to work with. Without a doubt, the reason I was able to hit the ground running was thanks to the established LTORR curriculum. Jennie Nestler deserves a great deal of credit for building a well-organized program. A curriculum which starts with a place to lay your head and a Food Pantry that removes the anxiety of where your next meal will come from. For those of us who lacked personal clothing, the VTC clothing locker offered a valuable resource to help me dress for success. I would be remiss, however, if I didn't acknowledge the invaluable support of Travis Johnson, the Job Development Coordinator. He was instrumental in helping me create a sterling resume that led to me securing employment here at the VTC. As I see it, there is no other organization I could have chosen that cares so deeply about the Veteran community, even the ones who carry the stigma of incarceration. I know this first-hand because I am one of them. VTC has also provided me with various opportunities to engage in volunteer service on VTC’s behalf. I take great pride and joy in serving other Veterans and the many supporters of VTC as well as the community. Finally, I would like to render a salute to my current case manager, Adrianna Kosinski who continues to provide excellent guidance and genuine care and concern for my success in moving from crisis to self-reliance. In her role of serving others, she is the team-leader of my goal-oriented transition plan and never fails to provide the support I need for completing my mission. In closing I thank all VTC leadership, staff, and its supporters for their commitment to ensuring that VTC continues to be an effective and successful resource within the
Veteran community.
Richard Hibbard
Eleven months ago, I walked out of prison, after serving 29 years, wearing the set of clothes my nephew bought me, $200 the state of California gave me, my mandolin, and two photo albums. Upon arriving at the VTC, I was met with such amazing support and encouragement. I actually understood what “welcome home” meant. My case manager, Adriana Kosinski helped me set goals and create a foundation that allowed me to grow and be successful. I truly believe that the VTC actually saves lives. Today, because of the awesome folks at the VTC and the confidence they instilled in me, I live in my own place in the Santa Cruz Mountains, own a car and truck, and I am also attending college full time. I am studying Music Technology and Recording Arts at Cabrillo College. I have been given the opportunity to pursue my true passion of making music as my day job. I have reconnected with my son and his amazing family and now my favorite people call me Grandpa. There simply are not enough words to express the gratitude and love I have for all of you folks at VTC, and I will always consider you family. Thank you.
Terry Hall
To the VTC, I would like to declare how grateful I am to the Veterans Transition Center. Without you, there would have been no way for me to have gotten as far in my life and as quickly as I have. From someone who doesn’t have any family in California, you have become my family. Thank you for providing me with a stress-free environment and the opportunity to springboard forward in my life. There are not enough words to express the feeling of acceptance that everyone at the VTC exuded. The hardest thing for me to admit at the time was how much I need to feel accepted, but everyone at VTC welcomed me and embraced me as I am now. I am truly grateful for that!
I am currently living in Brookdale, CA in the Santa Bruz Mountains and I am studying at Cabrillo College. I plan to transfer to UCSC soon and my goal is to acquire my Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Through the support of VTC, I was able to rent my own home which I had been looking forward to for such a long time. Every day, I get the look outside my window at the beautiful Redwood Forrest. Thank you VTC for being there for me when I had no one I could count on.
Sincerely yours,
Terry Hall
I am currently living in Brookdale, CA in the Santa Bruz Mountains and I am studying at Cabrillo College. I plan to transfer to UCSC soon and my goal is to acquire my Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Through the support of VTC, I was able to rent my own home which I had been looking forward to for such a long time. Every day, I get the look outside my window at the beautiful Redwood Forrest. Thank you VTC for being there for me when I had no one I could count on.
Sincerely yours,
Terry Hall
Thomas Lamphere
I once stood before a door, my hand hovering over the handle. The wood was old, the kind that creaks under the weight of time, and there was something in the silence that I couldn’t quite shake. A distant, persistent echo of a memory that refused to fade. My mind urged me to be rational, "It’s just your neighbor’s door."
I laughed at myself, knowing there would be no explosions waiting for me behind that door. No bullets tearing through the air. Still, fear held its ground. The air felt thick, almost suffocating. I tried to shake the sensation off, reminding myself, “I’m not there anymore.” But the quiet, the weight of the hallway, made me question if that was even true.
In my mind, I could feel the sun glaring down on us, like an angry god. The dust clung to our skin, thick and oppressive. I could feel my best friend beside me, and then—just like that—he was gone. Blood stained the ground, becoming an ocean that swallowed him. We left his outline in that darkened sand, but his shadow followed me home.
I lived with that shadow. I carried it everywhere. It was with me behind every unopened door, in every quiet moment. One night, it all became too much. The memories, the guilt, the unending battle in my mind. I still remember the feel of the rope, coarse against my skin. The night I tried to end it never truly left me. It lingers, just out of reach, always threatening to pull me back.
I would tell myself, “I’m not there anymore,” but was that ever true? The memories that haunted me felt like they were etched into my skin, invisible yet impossible to ignore. I wasn’t just stuck in the past—I was living in it, trapped behind every unopened door.
In the depths of my despair, when I felt I had nothing left to give, two incredible women stepped into my life—Jennie and Alex, from VTC. They saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. Even when I thought I was beyond saving, buried beneath layers of shame and guilt, they saw a man worth fighting for.
Jennie, with her quiet strength, saw straight through me. She never flinched, even when I showed her the darkest parts of myself. Her presence, steady and unafraid, made the darkness feel less suffocating. She taught me that it was okay to be broken—that healing wasn’t about pretending everything was fine, but about embracing the cracks, the scars, and the wounds. She made me believe that those wounds didn’t have to define who I was.
Alex had a fire in her that wouldn’t let me give up. She wouldn’t let me sink into the despair that often threatened to overwhelm me. Even on the days I wanted to quit, she stood firm. Her fierce determination reminded me that I still had something left to fight for. She was there, every time I stumbled, ready to help me get back up.
Words will never be enough to describe what they’ve done for me. They didn’t just save my life—they helped me reclaim it. Every step I take is a testament to their kindness, patience, and unwavering belief in me. Because of them, I learned how to walk through the door.
Some debts you can never repay, and this is one of them. Hope isn’t just something you find—it’s something people give to you when you’re too lost to find it yourself. I’ll carry their gift with me always. “Semper Fidelis”—Always Faithful.
—Thomas
I laughed at myself, knowing there would be no explosions waiting for me behind that door. No bullets tearing through the air. Still, fear held its ground. The air felt thick, almost suffocating. I tried to shake the sensation off, reminding myself, “I’m not there anymore.” But the quiet, the weight of the hallway, made me question if that was even true.
In my mind, I could feel the sun glaring down on us, like an angry god. The dust clung to our skin, thick and oppressive. I could feel my best friend beside me, and then—just like that—he was gone. Blood stained the ground, becoming an ocean that swallowed him. We left his outline in that darkened sand, but his shadow followed me home.
I lived with that shadow. I carried it everywhere. It was with me behind every unopened door, in every quiet moment. One night, it all became too much. The memories, the guilt, the unending battle in my mind. I still remember the feel of the rope, coarse against my skin. The night I tried to end it never truly left me. It lingers, just out of reach, always threatening to pull me back.
I would tell myself, “I’m not there anymore,” but was that ever true? The memories that haunted me felt like they were etched into my skin, invisible yet impossible to ignore. I wasn’t just stuck in the past—I was living in it, trapped behind every unopened door.
In the depths of my despair, when I felt I had nothing left to give, two incredible women stepped into my life—Jennie and Alex, from VTC. They saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. Even when I thought I was beyond saving, buried beneath layers of shame and guilt, they saw a man worth fighting for.
Jennie, with her quiet strength, saw straight through me. She never flinched, even when I showed her the darkest parts of myself. Her presence, steady and unafraid, made the darkness feel less suffocating. She taught me that it was okay to be broken—that healing wasn’t about pretending everything was fine, but about embracing the cracks, the scars, and the wounds. She made me believe that those wounds didn’t have to define who I was.
Alex had a fire in her that wouldn’t let me give up. She wouldn’t let me sink into the despair that often threatened to overwhelm me. Even on the days I wanted to quit, she stood firm. Her fierce determination reminded me that I still had something left to fight for. She was there, every time I stumbled, ready to help me get back up.
Words will never be enough to describe what they’ve done for me. They didn’t just save my life—they helped me reclaim it. Every step I take is a testament to their kindness, patience, and unwavering belief in me. Because of them, I learned how to walk through the door.
Some debts you can never repay, and this is one of them. Hope isn’t just something you find—it’s something people give to you when you’re too lost to find it yourself. I’ll carry their gift with me always. “Semper Fidelis”—Always Faithful.
—Thomas
Randy Ennis
After being released from prison on July 6, 2023, a representative of the Veterans Transition Center brought me directly to the VTC headquarters in Marina, and gave me a place to stay, food, clothing, and so much more. They have been such a blessing in my life. The VTC has helped me get my life together in so many ways. After volunteering here for four and a half months, they offered me a job as Maintenance Technician in the operations department. Not long after I started working here, I graduated from the program, and now my life is more on track than ever before. The support and opportunities from the VTC have made a huge difference. I have a sense of purpose and belonging. I feel like I’m a part of a community and that my family is here at VTC. Thank you to my case manager Tyler Burrola, who welcomed me with open arms and helped me set up a plan, reach my goals and build some amazing memories. Thank you to Jennie Nestler, the entire LTORR staff, and everyone here at VTC for really helping me walk through the amazing process of reintegrating into society. I am now renting my own home in Monterey due to the support of the VTC.
Brandon Le
I was sitting in my car on a January afternoon, debating with myself if I should call this place called “The Veterans Transition Center.” I could only infer from its name that it might be able to help me in my predicament. I was going back and forth from surfing couches and sleeping in my car. Ultimately, what tipped the scale was the excruciating thought of another freezing night in my vehicle turning the engine on a few times throughout the night to keep warm. I decided to make the call and was interviewed on the spot with a few basic questions about my military service and the nature of my discharge. They invited me to come by the following Monday and bring my discharge papers. Since that call was on a Friday, Monday could not come fast enough. I arrived there as soon as they opened. After my final interview, I was “off to the races” so-to-speak. They took me to the VA Clinic then back to the VTC where I was immediately housed and gifted a set of linens and various essential kitchen items. A huge sigh of relief overtook my emotions, and I had to surreptitiously turn my head and wipe the tears that went rogue on me.
After settling into my living situation, I was assigned a Case Manager, Tyler Burrola who helped me create a tailored plan to reach my goal of ultimately securing permanent housing. I was fortunate to be matched with someone who was not just competent, but who cared about my well-being. The care and counseling I received was invaluable and I was completely unaware of the resources available to Veterans like me. My Case Manager helped me navigate through the labyrinth of paperwork that the VA required. Aside from being a VA liaison, VTC offered substance abuse and mental health counseling that I so badly needed, while walking me through the painful process of repairing and improving my credit score. Every Veteran that enters the doors at VTC comes with his or her own special needs. The VTC staff does an amazing job sifting through the nuance and developing a “game plan” that best suits each individual Veteran along with a timeline that is reasonable for them. To expect 100% perfection is impossible, for that domain belongs to Providence, but The Veterans Transition Center and their staff come pretty darn close in my eyes. I cannot show enough gratitude nor are there enough encomiums for all the help they gave me in my hour of struggle and need.
After settling into my living situation, I was assigned a Case Manager, Tyler Burrola who helped me create a tailored plan to reach my goal of ultimately securing permanent housing. I was fortunate to be matched with someone who was not just competent, but who cared about my well-being. The care and counseling I received was invaluable and I was completely unaware of the resources available to Veterans like me. My Case Manager helped me navigate through the labyrinth of paperwork that the VA required. Aside from being a VA liaison, VTC offered substance abuse and mental health counseling that I so badly needed, while walking me through the painful process of repairing and improving my credit score. Every Veteran that enters the doors at VTC comes with his or her own special needs. The VTC staff does an amazing job sifting through the nuance and developing a “game plan” that best suits each individual Veteran along with a timeline that is reasonable for them. To expect 100% perfection is impossible, for that domain belongs to Providence, but The Veterans Transition Center and their staff come pretty darn close in my eyes. I cannot show enough gratitude nor are there enough encomiums for all the help they gave me in my hour of struggle and need.
Ed Spoon
I am a Veteran and a recovering addict. During my time of addiction, I felt like I had reached the end and couldn't see a way out. Then I discovered the gift of desperation. There was just no more hope, and I got tired of feeling that sense of hopelessness so, I finally reached out. The Veterans Transition Center was familiar to me because I had been involved with some of their programs in the past, but in July of 2020, I reached out to Dan Scott, Shelter Supervisor and Peer Support Specialist at the VTC.
He was a God send to me because at that moment, I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it another day without help. Dan let me know they had a bed for me, and I headed over to VTC. I said to myself “no more foolishness in my life” and made the promise to myself that I was going to do whatever was best for me. Since that day, I haven’t had a drink or used any drugs—it's been over four years now. My life is great! I live in Santa Cruz in my own place, and I work for the landlord in construction. I am helping local homeless people find hope and have had the pleasure of sharing my story at community events and on the radio. I’m continuing to work on myself by staying closely connected with my sponsor, taking art classes, getting my driver’s license, and buying a nice car. I love the Ocean and it’s only 5 minutes from my house. Life is simple and I’m happy. I am very grateful to VTC and everyone there. At VTC I found help with a plan to reach my goals. They taught me how to budget and helped me find a place to live. They really assist you in planning for your new life. It was a great experience, and I’d say to any Veteran out there who may be feeling helpless and hopeless, the VTC is a great place to go.
He was a God send to me because at that moment, I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it another day without help. Dan let me know they had a bed for me, and I headed over to VTC. I said to myself “no more foolishness in my life” and made the promise to myself that I was going to do whatever was best for me. Since that day, I haven’t had a drink or used any drugs—it's been over four years now. My life is great! I live in Santa Cruz in my own place, and I work for the landlord in construction. I am helping local homeless people find hope and have had the pleasure of sharing my story at community events and on the radio. I’m continuing to work on myself by staying closely connected with my sponsor, taking art classes, getting my driver’s license, and buying a nice car. I love the Ocean and it’s only 5 minutes from my house. Life is simple and I’m happy. I am very grateful to VTC and everyone there. At VTC I found help with a plan to reach my goals. They taught me how to budget and helped me find a place to live. They really assist you in planning for your new life. It was a great experience, and I’d say to any Veteran out there who may be feeling helpless and hopeless, the VTC is a great place to go.
Amos Johnson
I arrived here at VTC Feb 5th, 2021, and was introduced to my case manager, Alex Saldana. She was very courteous, enlightening, and helpful. She helped me get my driver’s license, birth certificate, social security card, and all the other necessary forms I needed to move forward in my life. She was even instrumental in helping me get my Veteran Benefits through the VA. VTC is what I call a one stop shop. Not only do they supply housing, but they also provide food, transportation to appointments, and help you with your specific needs. I was so mesmerized by how the VTC operates on a daily basis serving Veterans in need. I wanted to be a part of it myself, so I began volunteering my time at the food pantry serving food to over 200 people every day. The VTC not only helped me work on my resume but also played a huge role in helping me secure my first job. Now, I am proud to be employed at the VTC as the Pantry Manager, a position that allows me to give back to all my brothers and sisters who served our country, providing support and service to those who have been through similar experiences.
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Thank you for reading about our Veterans! Click the button below if you would like to donate to this campaign. We hope you can join us on November 10th, for our Salute to Veterans Jamboree. Where you will have the opportunity to meet and greet the Veterans above!
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