Project LIFT Helps Veterans Rebuild Purpose and Independence at Bay Pines VA
By Michael Brock, Public Affairs Specialist
When U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Charles Rackard first connected with Project LIFT at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, he was searching for more than employment — he was looking for a way forward.
After retiring from previous jobs, Rackard found himself unemployed and struggling with substance use. While retirement and Social Security benefits helped him financially, he said something more important was missing: purpose.
Project LIFT helped him begin rebuilding that sense of direction.
Project LIFT — short for Local Improvement Facilities-based Therapy — operates within Bay Pines VA’s Compensated Work Therapy program and helps bridge the gap between treatment and long-term employment. It provides Veterans with structured work experiences across the healthcare system by placing them in departments such as logistics, housekeeping, groundskeeping, and nutrition services.
“Work is therapeutic,” said Dr. Christopher McRae, Bay Pines VA Supervisory Social Science Program Manager, and leader for Project LIFT. “When Veterans have structure, purpose, and a supportive environment, it can strengthen their recovery and help them move toward independence.”
For Rackard, the program became a turning point.
Through the program, he learned how to develop a professional resume, search for positions aligned with his experience, and navigate the job application process. Just as importantly, the program helped restore his confidence.
“It helped me realize what I could do instead of focusing on what I couldn’t do,” Rackard said. “The staff really helped us. They didn’t just tell you what to do, they walked you through it.”
The program’s structure helped him reestablish daily discipline. Veterans participating in Project LIFT are responsible for showing up for training sessions, job searches, and work assignments — building accountability and routine along the way.
“It taught me responsibility,” Rackard said. “They’re not going to call you and remind you. You have to show up and put in the effort yourself.”
Today, Rackard works at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System and is training to become a peer counselor, hoping to help other Veterans facing similar challenges.
“I’ve always wanted to help people,” he said. “Now I get to encourage other Veterans and tell them not to give up.”
Since launching in April 2025, Project LIFT has grown rapidly, serving dozens of Veterans while helping many transition into competitive employment, including federal positions.
But program leaders say success is measured by more than job placement. Participants often experience improved routines, stronger self-confidence, better engagement in treatment, and meaningful connections with coworkers and fellow Veterans.
For Rackard, the program represents something deeper: gratitude and a renewed outlook on life.
His advice for other Veterans considering the program is simple.
“Stick and stay,” Rackard said. “If you give up on yourself, you’ll never know what you could accomplish. When someone reaches out their hand to help you, you’ve got to reach back.”
As Project LIFT continues to expand at Bay Pines VA, leaders hope the program will reach even more Veterans looking to rebuild their lives through purpose, structure, and opportunity.