Success Stories

On August 20, 1992, I was hit by a car while getting off a bus on my way home from my job as a roofer. I suffered serious head trauma and had my right leg severely broken. When the paramedics arrived, I was declared dead at the scene. Through the grace of God, the paramedics were able to bring me back to life.

During my recovery, I spent 21 days in a coma. Afterwards, I spent the next four years in a wheelchair, not knowing if I would ever walk again and suffering from severe memory problems as a result of my head injuries…

It was October of 2006 when I first came to Goodwill. I had just left my previous job in June. I wanted another job and I didn’t know how to go about getting one. I was very overwhelmed, working nights and having to take care of my daughter during the day.

The process at Goodwill started with just a simple application. I received a phone call from Marisa Rodriguez, my placement specialist, to meet with her in her office. We did everything from listing the type of work experience I had to what jobs I would like to do.

Robert “Bob” May is a veteran of the U.S. armed services and spent a decade homeless, living on riverbanks and wandering along railroad tracks.

A divorce had triggered severe depression. He also stopped taking medication for his bi-polar disorder and began drinking heavily and abusing drugs.

Alcohol abuse and violence were a part of Candy Nunez-Jura’s childhood. She and her younger sisters would hide in the family car to escape from her father’s abuse. At age 18, Candy became pregnant and got married. Her new husband was also abusive.

After several years and the birth of her second child, Candy left her abusive husband and had a difficult time finding a job and supporting her family as a single mother.

Eddie Leonard is passionate about Goodwill.

Eddie was once an active high school athlete and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He lived overseas while working for the Department of Defense and later worked as a supervisor with an agency that served youth and group homes in his home state.