The Whidbey Veterans Job Assistance Program was initiated at the Whidbey Community Foundation (WCF) in cooperation with the Opportunity Council in July 2023. It is designed for Veterans in need of a hand to land a job and secure a future for themselves and their families. Grants from the fund help Veterans or their spouses pay for last minute obstacles to closing on a job: training or certification, special tools, equipment and clothing, and childcare. Some transportation and moving expenses may also be eligible.
Apply for Assistance
The Whidbey Veterans Job Assistance Program is administered by the Opportunity Council of Island County.
Applicants submit a simple online application with the Opportunity Council indicating what the request is for and how it will help directly lead to a specific full-time job and briefly explain why the financial assistance is needed. Qualifying applicants then meet with OC and are prioritized using a rubric. Grants are awarded monthly and paid directly to the vendor.
An online application form can be found on the Opportunity Council website. For more information, please contact Opportunity Council’s Island County Community Resource Center at (360) 679-6577.
Supporting Local Veterans
Island County has the highest proportion of Veterans of any county in Washington State, and many of our neighbors continue to face barriers as they transition into civilian employment.
The Whidbey Veterans Job Assistance Program provides direct support to Veterans seeking job training, employment resources, and connections to local employers. Your contribution helps ensure that those who have served our country have access to the tools and opportunities they need to thrive here at home.
If you are interested in supporting this important work, you may make a donation through the Whidbey Community Foundation.
History of the Whidbey Veterans Job Assistance Program
Started in mid-2023, in collaboration with the Whidbey Community Foundation and Opportunity Council, Oak Harbor residents George and Sheila Saul, opened a new fund to kickstart a pilot program providing support to Whidbey Veterans in obtaining full-time jobs.
The Sauls established the program in memory of their fathers, both WW2 Army veterans who fought in Europe. Sheila’s dad, Ed Moy, was in the Signal Corps and George’s father, Frank Saul, was in Field Artillery and OSS.
The Whidbey Veterans Job-Assistance Program focuses on helping vets with late-stage expenses that directly stand in the way of them getting a specific job. Examples might include childcare for final interviews, pre-job training, certification, licensing, transportation, or clothes or tools – any last-minute expense barriers to getting the job and starting work.