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Jerry Collins was among the thousands of New Orleans evacuees who sought to land a job at job fair in downtown Houston last month.

KHOU - TV

Jerry Collins, a Katrina evacuee, on the job with Dish Network.

At the same fair, Dish Network needed to find some good people, but General Manager Bill Talab didn’t realize he’d also be helping someone back on their feet.

That is until he met Collins.

He didn’t just lose his house and hometown in the year since Katrina, he also lost his footing.

“No job’s beneath me, I’ve go to get a job,” Collins said during the fair.

His thick folder of rejected applications wasn’t nearly as heavy as his heart.

But now, one month later, he’s working.

“We hired him. He started immediately,” said a Dish Network representative. “He’s really got initiative; he’s got a lot of drive.”

So, happy ending, well we figured this would be a day of smiles, but were we wrong.

“If it wasn’t for you Reggie, I’m telling you I was at my wit’s end.  I really was.  (crying)  thank.  (hugs Reggie)  Reg:  I’m glad we met you.  That was a good day,” said Collins. “Thanks.”

Truth is, Jerry got the job on his own merits and Dish Network hired him not despite his evacuee status, or even because of it.

If you think you know all about evacuees, well, think of Jerry Collins.

He’s the man who lost and found his feet. “Oh yea, this time I landed on them and I’m gonna stay on top of them.”