My Story: Josh MrKvicka

Despite some challenges stemming from a intellectual disability, Josh MrKvicka completed high school and looked forward to the next step…a job! Josh needed help tackling the job search. After trying another agency with no luck, Josh and his family gave Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas (Kansas City, MO) a try. He and Goodwill employment specialist, Jane Siela, went to work. He now works at Freddy’s Restaurant in St. Joseph, MO as a "Lobby Guy".

READ MORE from My Story: Josh MrKvicka

My Story: Tina Bouatic

At age 14, my parents got divorced. They were both drinking and fighting a lot. I started hanging with the wrong crowd. I started cutting school, cutting classes and began to smoke cigarettes. Eventually, while doing drugs and drinking – I went out, stayed out late. I basically stopped going to school. I got pregnant.

READ MORE from My Story: Tina Bouatic

My Story: Nadia Patterson

When Nadia Patterson moved from New York to North Carolina with her children, she had limited job prospects. Goodwill Industries of the Southern PIedmont (Charlotte, NC) helped her get back on track by earning her GED, pursuing secondary education and landing a job in her dream field as a pharmacy technician.

READ MORE from My Story: Nadia Patterson

Kingsport, TN Goodwill Helps Participants Succeed Through Re-Entry Program

Goodwill Industries of Tenneva (Kingsport) helps individuals with criminal backgrounds complete the last step, intervention, by addressing their employability concerns with re-entering the workforce through classes at the Day Reporting Center (DRC). The DRC provides education, sobriety and works to reduce criminal intent for probationers and parolees. Graduation from the DRC program in Johnson City, TN is a big deal for the participants of the grant funded program of the Targeted Community Crime Reduction Project (TCCRP). This past January, two participants, Chris Rowe and Jason Nickles, received their certificate of graduation with smiles and enthusiasm for the next chapter of their lives.

READ MORE from Kingsport, TN Goodwill Helps Participants Succeed Through Re-Entry Program

My Story: Nick Biddlecome

With Goodwill’s help, a man from Indiana lands a full-time job at a local plant. He is now saving to buy a house that he and his young son can call home.

READ MORE from My Story: Nick Biddlecome

My Story – Kylie Corp

During my school years I remember being an easy target because I was picked on a lot by the other kids. It got harder and harder for me to go to school, but I finally finished high school in 2007.  I had no future plans and remained home with my family for the next three

READ MORE from My Story – Kylie Corp

My Story: Tanyel Johnson

Tanyel quit her job to attend to the needs of her children, specifically, her son with a disability, while her husband worked. Not working caused her to fall into a depression. She saw a commercial for Goodwill's services and later connected with the agency in Omaha for a six-month customer service training. She landed an internship,which then led to permanent employment that allows her to still attend to her son's needs when needed.

READ MORE from My Story: Tanyel Johnson

My Story – Cody Pacht

After high school, Cody was excited to start the next phase of his life but didn't know where to begin. He connected with the Colorado Springs' "Pursuits" program, where he gained confidence and built his job skills. At the conclusion of the program, he found a job at a local car dealership. "Now that I look back and see how far I have come and how much I have achieved, I realize that there is nothing out of my reach," he says.

READ MORE from My Story – Cody Pacht

Little Rock Goodwill Assists Residents with Health Care Enrollment

Goodwill Industries of Arkansas (Little Rock) is offering Arkansans who qualify the opportunity to enroll in free or low-cost health insurance plans at select area Goodwill retail stores. The collaboration with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield began on November 11 with Blue Cross and Blue Shield staff visiting 12 Little Rock Goodwill locations on specific days of the week

READ MORE from Little Rock Goodwill Assists Residents with Health Care Enrollment

Goodwill Services Help Hispanic Job Seekers Earn Employment

Rockville, MD – In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 – October 15, 2013, Goodwill Industries International is highlighting contributions made by America’s growing Hispanic population to the country’s economic and cultural vitality. The 2010 U.S. Census revealed that 50.5 million Americans — 16 percent of the population — identify themselves as Hispanic

READ MORE from Goodwill Services Help Hispanic Job Seekers Earn Employment