My Story: Bill Thigpen

April 26, 2010 | By Jenni B. Baker | Subscribe to "My Story" RSS

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.

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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4 Comments

1. Debbie Edmonds April 27th, 2010 at 12:06 am

   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!

   Reply
2. marge parry April 27th, 2010 at 11:57 pm

   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.

   Reply
3. Jenni Baker
   GII Online Content Manager
   April 28th, 2010 at 1:58 am

   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.

   Reply