Job fair held for unemployed RI troops

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) -- One of Rhode Island's largest employers is helping unemployed veterans and active service members get back to work.

On Tuesday, 85 troops took part in the CVS/Caremark Hiring Our Heroes job fair in Warwick.

The Woosocket-based pharmacy chain gave military members first dibs at more than one hundred available full-time jobs, accepting applications and even granting interviews on the spot.

Filinto Brito of North Providence was among those who signed up for the Hiring Our Heroes event.  The National Guard Reserve soldier arrived looking for work to help support his family.  He has a 13-year-old son in Central Falls and a wife in Africa he would like to move to Rhode Island.

"Right now is kind of hard to be here because the situation is not good," Brito said, in reference to Rhode Island's stagnant economy and double-digit unemployment rate, which is tied for the highest in the entire U.S.

But Brito tells Eyewitness News he was encouraged after speaking to recruiters during Tuesday's job fair.

"They seem like they are going to try to help me somewhat."