I am Amber Thompson, a lead worker at the Rappahannock Goodwill Laundry, and I am dedicated to my career here! I began training more than 10 years ago as a transitional employment student right out of high school. I was very shy and didn’t talk much at first but with the help of my job coach I started talking to my coworkers.
Category: My Story
My Story: Jose Luis Robledo
I found myself at my lowest point when I lost my father while still in high school. As a result, I felt the burden of needing to step up and fill my father’s shoes by taking care of my mom. Unfortunately, medical issues made this difficult for me to do. Eventually, I was told I was disabled and unable to work so I attempted to get on disability income with no success.
My Story: Amy Ofenbeck
Amy Ofenbeck had a promising career as a television news anchor when she first moved to Southwest Florida. But those dreams were put on hold in 1997, when she suffered a grade-five brain aneurysm. She was just 26 years old.
My Story: Pablo Gaxiola
My name is Pablo Gaxiola. On August 7, 2014, I began the journey that has changed my life. Goodwill of Silicon Valley (San Jose, CA) invited me to attend an orientation for the New Opportunity Work (NOW) program. I came in unsure of what was going to happen with only the smallest bit of hope that something would change. After an initial assessment and orientation I was given a job as an administrative clerk, utilizing experience and skills I learned from spending 15 years in prison.
My Story: Allison Dees
In 2014 unexpectedly, my fiancée died tragically. He was the sole source of income for me and my four children. The shock and depression crippled me. My mom, who is from Maryland, stayed with me for about nine months. We met with Greta [from Goodwill Industries of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana] and talked about computer classes and possibly working at the Goodwill store.
My Story: Charles Jackson
I love my family. But I was failing them. I wanted some quick money, and I got mixed up in illegal drug activity. I hurt everyone I loved – including me. It cost me a lot, 26 months in federal prison. But more than that, it cost me my ability to work. When I got out, no one would hire someone with a felony record. Every job I applied for said no, even if I was the best-qualified guy.
My Story: Tiarra Barrera
Six years ago, I was a single mother raising two young children while living in a low-income housing community. Determined to support my family, I enrolled in Goodwill’s Certified Nurse Assistant Training Program.
My Story: Dammond Devon Steen, Jr.
Eventually, raising four kids became too much for my 19-year-old mom, and I landed in foster care. Even then, I did okay in school. I was on track to graduate. But that never happened. I got into a fight at school – with a police officer. I was arrested. If I would have stopped for one second to think about it, I wouldn’t have gone to jail, but I didn’t think. I acted. The result was a year in prison. Adult prison, not 'juvie'.
My Story: Tieausha Thomas
I was raised by my single mother of five children who struggled with drug addiction. What can I say? Life was extremely hard. We always seemed to lack the basic necessities.
My Story: Charles Gourlay
Let me introduce myself, my name is Charles A. Gourlay, and I’m a computer salvage/material handler at Goodwill in Gary, IN. Shortly after birth I was diagnosed with spinal meningitis which resulted in total loss of hearing by the age of two.
My Story: Patrice Blackstock
I became a mom at the age of 15. I hadn’t any real guidance because my mom was often sick. I got involved with the wrong crowd very early in life. I just wanted to belong, be loved and appreciated.
My Story: David George
The beauty I have found in others and their help far exceeds any expectation I would ever have. With that being said, the help I received from Goodwill® and their training programs gave me the skills I needed to excel in life. The soft skills training course taught me to learn people skills and the ability assert myself to give the proper direction to others in ways to help themselves to help me gain what is needed to motivate in a team comradery.
