Brian Holland, a Navy veteran, was homeless and living at the Good News Rescue Mission in Redding nearly five years ago when he saw a flier that gave him hope.
“I wasn’t sure where I was headed,” the 52-year-old Holland said of his life at the time.
He remembers thinking that he had nothing to lose, so he reached out to the organization on the flier, Nation’s Finest, a 50-year-old nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans and their families.
“I went in and talked to Rebecca (Daricek) and instantly she said, ‘We can help you.’ And, I started crying because I was finally getting some help. I knew that I had a drinking problem at the time, and it was time to stop,” Holland said.
Holland, who’s been sober for four and a half years, was celebrated Thursday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Nation’s Finest veterans’ home on Waldon Street. With the help of local contractors, the nonprofit organization restored the historic 105-year-old home. Nation’s Finest is leasing the house from the city of Redding,
Holland, who grew up in Happy Valley and went to West Valley High School before joining the Navy at 18, is the first resident in the house, which is permanent housing for up to four veterans.
So taken with how his life has changed since his days of living on the streets out of a duffel bag, Holland found it hard to keep his emotions in check Thursday, Nov. 20. He teared up as well-wishers brought house-warming gifts while others just gave him a hug.
“It kind of seems unreal in a way for me,” he said. “When I moved in, the first or second day, I went to put away some tea bags in the cupboard. I started tearing up because it gave me this feeling of what I thought I would never have, to live in a new house.”
Holland served in the Navy from 1992 to 1995, a portion of that time in the Persian Gulf on the aircraft carrier USS Independence.
Daricek, Nation’s Finest site director, said Holland doesn’t take anything for granted and still thinks he’s not worthy of his new home.
“He gets real emotional at this because he doesn’t think he deserves it and I don’t know where that comes from,” she said. “He feels like he’s not worth this and he doesn’t deserve to be here.
“He’s the caretaker here for now but he’s going to be our permanent resident. We will have three more people moving in. … Hopefully we will have them in here before mid-December.”
Holland volunteers at Plantable Nursery & Café, which is within walking distance of his home.
Next spring, he hopes to interview for a job with McEntire Landscaping.
“I’m really looking forward to that. I love gardening. I love to work outside and making it pretty. Just being outdoors, I love plants and all that,” Holland said.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: In Redding, Navy veteran humbled he is truly home for the holidays
Reporting by David Benda, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
