Wayne puts the van into gear.

In the back is a cooler filled with drinks and snacks. Ahead are people around Manchester experiencing homelessness who Wayne hopes to reach with a meal, a conversation or simply a reminder that someone cares.

He calls his mission “The Cook of Acts.” For now, it’s a small van and a cooler. But Wayne has a much bigger vision for what it could become.

He knows what a simple meal can mean when you don’t know where the next one is coming from.

A few short months ago, Wayne wasn’t driving around looking to help those without a home. He was one of them.

Now, thanks to Liberty House and supporters like you, he’s back on his feet – building a life where he can be the one offering it.

A Life of Service

Wayne grew up in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. At 23, he joined the Air Force, eventually serving in intelligence operations at Aviano Air Base in Italy.

The military gave Wayne something he would carry with him long after his service ended: confidence.

“There’s nothing that can make you aware of what you’re capable of than when you join the military,” he said. “That carries forward. It helps you build confidence every day.”

But leaving the military brought challenges he wasn’t prepared for.

Without the structure and purpose that had defined his life, Wayne struggled to find meaning in the jobs that followed once he returned home. Over time, he turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the gap in his life.

What started as a way to deal with his struggles became a downward spiral.

He found work delivering food, but without the structure he needed, he struggled to stay on track. He quit his job, relapsed and lost his housing.

Wayne eventually found himself facing homelessness for a third time. That’s when reality hit that he needed to break the cycle.

Learning to Accept Support

For years, Wayne convinced himself that he should be able to handle things on his own.

He knew he had to accept a difficult truth.

“I actually needed help and I wasn’t going to do it on my own,” he shared.

Wayne discovered Liberty House through its community pantry and learned about its transitional housing and support for veterans facing circumstances like his. He called and spoke with Stephanie Murphy, who eventually became his case manager.

“I am incredibly proud of the progress he has made and of the strength and commitment he has shown throughout his journey so far,” said Murphy. “Our shared appreciation for music and our shared faith in God has created a wonderful way to connect and build trust throughout his progress. I am grateful for the opportunity to support Wayne as he continues to move forward in his recovery.”

At Liberty House, Wayne found more than a place to sleep. He found a plan.

Staff worked with him to address the challenges standing between him and leading a stable life. Together, they navigated the challenges of obtaining employment, securing reliable transportation, and overcoming other barriers along the way.

“Within a week, sometimes within that day, they have a checklist of all the things you need to do to help start taking care of those things,” Wayne said.

With the support of Liberty House, Wayne had reliable transportation to volunteer opportunities and job interviews. He also took on weekly chores alongside his housemates, contributing to the home and becoming part of the community. He had structure again, which made all the difference.

After several months, Liberty House began to feel like home – the place where he would finally get his life back on track.

Finding His Way Back

Wayne has been sober since October 22 of last year.

Through the VA’s Compensated Work Therapy program, he began rebuilding his work history and proving to himself he could show up and contribute.

That hard work recently led him to another major milestone: Wayne was hired for a government position within the VA.

For Wayne, it’s more than a job. It’s proof that the future he once thought was gone is still possible.

He no longer sees his years of struggle as wasted time. He has a job that brings him meaning and fulfillment every day.

“The old me would have said I wasted a lot of time in between,” he said. “But now, I realize that all had to happen for a reason.”

And that new perspective has changed the way he looks at the people around him.

Paying it Forward

Wayne’s transformation isn’t just about what he has gained. It’s about what he now has to give.

At Liberty House, he has found a community where veterans look out for one another. He’s already had the opportunity to help a fellow housemates navigate their own job searches, even using his own connections to help set up an interview.

Not long ago, he was the one who needed someone to open a door for him. Now, he’s finding ways to open doors for others.

“I realized that there’s a lot of people out there that don’t have that,” Wayne said. “So this is as an opportunity to pay it forward.”

The same spirit is driving his new mission.

Wayne hopes one day his food truck will be driving through more communities outside of Manchester, serving people who might otherwise go without a meal. For him, it’s about treating people with dignity and reminding them that they matter – the same type of compassion he received at Liberty House.

A Future Worth Feeding

Wayne is 54. For a long time, he thought his best years were behind him.

Now, he sees things differently.

He has his sobriety. He has a new career. He has regained his confidence. And he has a community around him.

He wants people to know that needing help does not mean their story is over. Wayne knows that firsthand.

“Liberty House has been here for a while,” he said. “They have a system in place that works.”

Today, thanks to your support, Wayne isn’t just rebuilding his own life.

He’s already thinking about how he will help someone else find their purpose – one meal and mile at a time.