U.S. Army veteran Caroline Contreras was living in a homeless shelter, struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, when another problem threatened to push her over the edge: Identity theft.
The Connecticut Veteran’s Legal Center helped her out of a bind, Contreras testified before a packed ground of lawyers at a gathering Thursday night at the John Slade Ely House on Trumbull Street.
Contreras was one of the first clients of the Connecticut Veteran’s Legal Center when it opened two years ago at the Errera Community Care Center at the Veterans Administration hospital in West Haven. She told her story at a second annual fundraiser for CVLC on Veterans Day.
Contreras, who’s 52, said she was living in a shelter in Milford two years ago when she came across CVLC. Her social security card was being used by another person to work in different states. She said the problem prevented her from getting an apartment or a job. At the time, she was suffering from depression, anxiety and PTSD related to a sexual assault when she served in the Army, stateside, some 30 years ago.
Within 15 minutes of when she walked in the door at CVLC, lawyers got a police officer to take down a report, she said. CVLC launched an effort to help her prove her identity — and got the job done. Two years later, she said, she is now working as a drug addiction counselor in Bridgeport — and volunteering at the homeless shelter where she used to live. Oh — and she’s getting her bachelor’s degree in Springfield, Mass.
Meanwhile, CVLC has expanded to employ three people, on top of a team of lawyers who work pro bono for vets. The organization has provided free legal services for 300 veterans struggling with homelessness and mental illness.
The wine-tasting raised $115,000 so the organization can help more vets in need.
Lawyers and politicians packed the rooms of the privately owned art gallery. They noshed on cheese and meats provided by Caseus.
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro chatted with local lawyer Gary Sklaver, whose son died in the line of duty in Afghanistan. They debriefed about Rick Perry’s embarrassing performance in the latest Republican debate.
Caseus waiters circulated with plates of sweet potato and sage quiche with Kunik cheese, a blend of cow’s and goat’s milk.
Adam Dworkin, a veteran and lawyer who helped plan the event, grabbed a portion of white bean soup with apples and sausage.
The soup came in little shot glasses, which had to be tipped upside down to get the last morsels out. Clay George demonstrated the proper technique to his fellow Yale Law students.
New Haven state Rep. Pat Dillon chatted with Yale Law students Allysa King and Kathryn Cahoy, who are taking part in a veterans’ legal services clinic at the law school. A bodyguard for the governor watched over the crowd.
Gov. Dan Malloy chatted with Mike Wishnie, a professor at the Yale Law School. In helping veterans in their daily lives, Malloy said, the organization serves to “honor the sacrifice they make for all of us.”
How did they raise that much money? Did 100 people buy $1000 tickets or did 1000 people buy $100 tickets?