Thornell Moore readily admits that he didn’t always have the best disposition when it came to working with DDS/RSA. He had been connected with similar organizations across the DMV for years, but often felt like he wasn’t being heard and that staff just dismissed him. At one point, his anger and disruptive behavior caused him to be escorted out of DDS/RSA. Then he met VR Counselor Alecia Trunk, and things changed.
Thornell has experienced just about every aspect of street life imaginable, resulting in multiple hospital visits and several stays in homeless shelters. He joined various support groups, but never really committed to the principles of self-discipline and abstinence necessary to change his behavior. Before he realized it, he was over 50 and mad at himself for the time he’d wasted. Finally, he realized he couldn’t fix himself. It was time for him to use RSA services in the manner they were intended.
According to Thornell, Trunk was the first person who told him he could turn things around. She encouraged him to focus on his passion for cooking. After earning his food handlers license, he signed up with a temp agency and turned his passion into his “hustle.” Thornell has managed kitchen activities for government and nonprofit agencies--from setting staff schedules to preparing meals and ordering supplies. His current weekday hustle is head cook at an elementary school. On weekends his meals fill people at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH). Stable employment and the appreciation of students and colleagues have made a big difference. “The kids give me drawings to say ‘thank you’ for lunch or breakfast, and my coworkers remembered my birthday.” It was the first time he recalled ever having received such sentiments. “It was great.”
Thornell is putting the tools he received from DDS/RSA to work while he expands his cooking ventures. He recently married the “love of his life” and has reunited with his daughter. “I appreciate the way Ms. Trunk dealt with me. She was authentic and helped me to be open and patient with the process. You’ve got to want to change. Now, I have a whole new outlook on life. I feel free; my future is unlimited.”
Above: Thornell Moore enjoys showing off his culinary talent. He makes sure students have the food they like prepared healthily.
Below: VR Counselor Alecia Trunk recalls their rocky start and reiterates how proud she is of his success.
