My Story: Bill Thigpen
April 26, 2010 | By Jenni Baker | 
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After five years of battling breast cancer, my wife passed away in December of 2008. Six weeks later, I was laid off. I was having a tough time getting up in the morning and having ambition to do anything, but at the time, I still had two sons in college and a 16-year old daughter to support.
I was standing in the unemployment line out in Chester County, PA, when I was approached by a member of Goodwill® Keystone Area’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) who told me to talk to the case manager, Dorothy Marshall. I told her I really wanted to get into either public service or nonprofit work.
Bill Thigpen performs office work at Goodwill Keystone Area.
She got a position for me as her actual assistant. I worked with new SCSEP participants and host agencies. I took the participants and taught them how to use the computer, how to search for a job, and eventually placed them in positions with about 30-40 nonprofit organizations in Chester County. She did a phenomenal job of teaching me how to work with nonprofit agencies and complete the paperwork that had to be done.
After about nine months, one of the host agencies had a position opening up as the director for one of their main offices. I interviewed for the job. They liked me and I started in April 2009. SCSEP was the most perfect thing that has happened to me, and I am looking forward to helping others.
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What a remarkable story Bill! I am so glad that Dorothy provided you with the opportunity to train in the SCSEP in a training position that allowed you to find a job in the field that interested you. Thank you for sharing a very personal time of your life with us, and sharing your success also. Good luck with your career!
Hi, I live in Brandon, Florida and I myself is having a very hard time finding a job. I have a few health problems but not bad enough to keep me from work. I have to have a job where I cannot be standing 8 hours a day. I read Bill’s story and was interested in the SCSEP. Thank you Bill for sharing your story with us. It’s an inspiration and now I have some hope that I too, soon, will get a job.
Please e-mail me if you have some ideas for me here in the Tampa/Brandon area.
Marge — here is the list of states in which Goodwill currently offers SCSEP services: http://www.goodwill.org/uncategorized/goodwill-scsep-locations/
However, SCSEP services are available in every county of the United States. If you do not live in one of the areas where Goodwill operates the program, call (877) 872-5627 or use the American Service Locator (http://servicelocator.org/ ) to find your local SCSEP provider.