NAPLES, Fla. - TelAve -- Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, recently hosted its Nationwide Days of Second Chances events in partnership with 18 churches across the U.S., providing 3,786 job seekers with access to background-friendly employers.

Held during Second Chance Month, the annual initiative mobilizes churches, volunteers, businesses and nonprofits across the country around a shared mission to expand opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment. These barriers may include incarceration, homelessness, lack of reliable transportation or childcare, or gaps in work history.

This year, 18 job fairs were hosted across the country, including in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Ohio and Washington, D.C. 203 hiring employers participated in the events, with 2,851 interviews scheduled or conducted and 492 conditional job offers made on the spot.

One hiring event broke the record for most job seekers attending a Better Together job fair, with First United Methodist Church in Lakeland, Florida, welcoming 552 job seekers to help them find work and support.

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In Tampa Bay, Florida, Jamario, a father-to-be and returning citizen, got a job. Jolene, a mom of two children, got an interview scheduled with an employer who loved her energy. In Fort Pierce, Florida, Keyon found a welcoming community and hope for the future. They are but a few of the thousands of job seekers who found support, opportunity and hope at the hiring events this year.

"We are incredibly thankful to have reached nearly 4,000 job seekers this year," said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. "Our goal with these job fairs is to connect our neighbors with second-chance employers and valuable resources, offering renewed hope and real pathways toward independence and financial stability. Thanks to the dedication of our church partners, hiring employers, volunteers and everyone who helped make this possible, we were able to make that vision a reality and create meaningful change in many people's lives."

Nationwide Day of Second Chances is part of the Better Together workforce outreach, which has helped more than 50,000 applicants connect with employment opportunities across 25 states.

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The church-based job fairs not only connect job seekers with local employers who offer on-the-spot job opportunities but also provide resources to facilitate stronger connections and more hires. Free one-on-one job coaching sessions are available to job seekers to review resumes and interviewing skills, and additional services, such as free haircuts and clothing, are also encouraged.

Nearly all job seekers leave with hope in their hearts as the Better Together model encourages celebration of their wins. One way that's done is through the Opportunity Bell, which rings whenever anyone gets a job offer or interview.

To learn more about Better Together and this year's event, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.