While most of you are enjoying time with family and friends, please remember why we are celebrating today. Moldmakers can get involved in helping those who served our country through a number of organizations!
iWarriors donates iPads to wounded warriors. Co-founder Kim Bartz says the iPads help the marines recover faster by enabling them to stay in touch with family and friends who were unable to be with them at the hospital—as well as remain connected to the outside world.
During their travels to Camp Pendleton, CA, Kim and her husband Tim—also a co-founder and co-owner of Mold Craft Inc.—came across Workshop for Warriors—a non-profit vocational training center for veterans that provides manufacturing trades education and hands-on-training to prepare graduates for careers in welding, CAD/Solidworks/Mastercam software, milling, machining, machinery repair, CNC plasma cutting, woodworking, diesel and gasoline engine repair, and fabrication.
I recently came across an organization that I believe could help with the skilled workforce dilemma—for those mold manufacturers who like to train from within. In 2005, Mark and Tori Baird started a job website to match veterans with local residents who needed work done around their homes. Today, hirepatriots.com has not only filled more than 50,000 one-day jobs, but also helped 1,500 vets find full-time work. Veterans who are struggling to find full-time work would no doubt make dedicated employees who would catch on relatively quickly to positions within the moldmaking environment.
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