Serious industrial accident, student looks at bright future

April 9, 2024

It’s pretty obvious that Dawson is enjoying L.O.G.I.C. training at the Food Bank of Delaware’s new Milford facility. He always greets everyone with a smile and a friendly wave – everyday! Dawson’s part of the first class in Milford, and he’ll graduate in May. He’s been sending out resumes’ and planning for a bright, productive future.

L.O.G.I.C. (Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing and Inventory Control) is a 14-week training program, certified as a trade school by the Delaware Department of Education, that prepares students for careers in the warehousing/logistics industry. Under the guidance of an Operations Instructor, students train in the warehouses of the Food Bank of Delaware in Newark and Milford.

It wasn’t that long ago that Dawson’s future looked bleak – and even questionable. In 2019, he was nearly fatally injured in an industrial accident. Doctors first told him he might lose a leg to amputation, but were able to repair it with titanium rods. He was hospitalized for months and endured numerous surgeries along the way.

In fact, at a very low point in his life he reached out to the Food Bank for food. A staff member told him about the L.O.G.I.C. program and encouraged him to consider it once our new facility – then under construction – was complete.

“I didn’t look into it right away. It took me some time,” he said. But he followed through and enrolled.

Then he faced another challenge: the mother of his three daughters died soon after classes started. “We were divorced, but it’s all about the children,” he explained.

The classwork itself presented some challenges: Dawson also sustained a serious head injury in the accident, and though he struggles to process written material, he persists and is doing well – even working on additional certification, including his CDL.  His eventually aims to become certified as an OSHA safety specialist.

Due to the traumatic accident, there’s also the emotional challenges: part of L.O.G.I.C. training is hands-on in the warehouse. “We watched a movie about how severely someone could be injured in a forklift accident. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the class,” he said.

“It (his accident) opened my eyes about being safe as the primary focus. The accident could have cost me my life. But now, I don’t take things for granted. I look forward, always to the brighter side of things,” he added.

Dawson also praises the Food Bank staff and the program. “I really enjoy getting up and coming here everyday and seeing everyone. I do like being here, sitting at a table, having lunch together, just talking. It’s fun to build a rapport.”

After Dawson – and his classmates – complete a two-week paid internship, they will graduate in May.

Registration is now open for the next L.O.G.I.C. class which starts on May 13. Visit L.O.G.I.C. : Food Bank of Delaware (fbd.org) for more information.