My Story: Julie Stewart

July 12, 2010 | By Adam Stiska | Subscribe to "My Story" RSS

My background is as a hairdresser for 38 years, but I have a bad back and can’t stand a long time anymore. I spent some time traveling in a motor home, selling at flea markets, but that was getting very difficult, and I wasn’t making enough money.

Through social security, I got a low-income apartment. I felt that I didn’t have a life, and that I would like to work. I went into the manager of our apartments and I asked her what I could do so that I could work without my rent going up. She told me about Goodwill Industries® of New Mexico.

I went to Goodwill® and found out it was the Senior Community Service Employment program (SCSEP), not just Goodwill. I enrolled in the program in 2008 and started at Ser de New Mexicto as my first host agency before I was rotated to Goodwill.

When I got to Goodwill, the lady who was doing data entry for the program put in her resignation, so they asked if I’d like to apply. I applied and got the job. I do the data entry for the SCSEP program and I also do pre-enrollment assessments for the participants that are coming into the program.

I love everything — the data entry is just an adventure to keep everything clean in the system.  Doing pre-enrollment assessment is wonderful because I can share my experience with the people. A lot of people have given up hope, feel that life is over as a senior, and are in such dire situations. It’s so hopeful for them to get into this program and for their life to change.

Since I started working at Goodwill, I’ve gotten a new car and a four-bedroom home with friends. I have a life that’s purposeful and meaningful. I really wanted to be a part of something that was helpful to others, and this is what Goodwill is about.

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4 Comments

1. Louis Carrillo July 13th, 2010 at 6:17 pm

   Julie’s Journey is what the SCSEP Program is about! Thank you for Sharing this wonderful and enlighting story!

   Reply
2. N. Jackson July 21st, 2010 at 10:18 pm

   God bless you Julie – your story is an inspiration!

   Reply
3. Daniel Wortner August 6th, 2010 at 3:36 am

   I find this story very inspirational considering I’m also in the SCSEP program in Tucson, Arizona working at one of the Goodwill stores.  I’m regaining skills in something totally different and plan to put in an application as soon as possible because I want to be permanent with Goodwill since they are giving me this second chance at having employment at my age.  Without SCSEP and Goodwill, I would probably be still unemployed what with today’s economy and places not hiring the older worker as much.

   Reply