My Story: David Beiter
February 15, 2010 | By Jenni Baker | 
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I can remember as far back as second grade that I knew I was different and didn’t know how to express it. I was diagnosed late in my 40s with bipolar and major depressive disorder.
I was a good citizen. I had a house, I had a car, and I had two dogs and cats. Through my years I watched my father drink alcohol every morning, and I picked up on that through my life. I drank it all away. I lost everything. I had nothing but the shirt on my back and a backpack that had a few clothes in it.
I spent almost two years being homeless before finding my way to TX, where I ran into some people at the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation who brought me into Goodwill Industries® of South Texas.
David Beiter unloads donations from a car at Goodwill Industries of South Texas.
When I got to Goodwill®, I met other people just like me working their way to get back into a normal situation, and I found a case manager, Michael Jones, who really helped me a whole lot. I found that I can be close to being normal again and that’s what I really want. These people showed me how to do it. I’ve learned to cope with things. I can get through life struggles now and it’s not a problem.
My Goodwill family is just tremendously good to me and good to all the clients that come to Goodwill, and I appreciate that so much. I’m glad to have met people here—they turned my whole perspective on life all the way around. I now can do this. When people tell me I can’t do things, now I can laugh at them and say, “Yes, I can do things.”
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Beautiful Story David!!!
I am very happy that you went to goodwill and u have good people helping you. Good luck in life and your accomplishments. I have been out of work for many years now due to a number of ongoing Illnesses. I am still batteling a few. I am thinking of just trying out a volunteer position where I live. Hoping to get the GUTS up to do it soon. Do hope I can accomplish that goal.
Wonderful story, you are so brave! I am so glad for you that you are doing so well, you can be proud of all you have achieved!
Thankyou David. It was so encouraging to hear “your” story.
Congratulations!!!! God Bless You! I too have Bi-polar and many other illness ‘and am also trying to get my life back that i have lost due to illness galore.
Your story shows me that there is HOPE…Im living in my twin brothers basement thank god for my twin, but i need my own life and he needs his.
I would be homeless without him.