My story is similar to many Americans today who consider themselves long-term unemployed. I remember watching television and the news anchor spoke about the high employment rates and those who were considered long-term unemployed. They described how hard it was to re-enter employment after experiencing a layoff or a permanent shutdown. I felt like the news anchor was talking about me, which added to my anxiety and depression.
Category: My Story
My Story: Racheal Acklin
My name is Racheal Acklin. I have a reading learning disorder, and I suffer from depression. My life has been met with many challenges.
My Story: Jonathan Toledo
I had a lot of challenges growing up. I didn’t really know my dad and we moved around a lot because we had to. By the time I was a teenager, I was in trouble more than I was out of trouble, and things went from bad to worse. Goodwill gave me my first chance, but it
My Story: Richard Nickell
When I was released from prison for crimes I committed in the past, I came to a shelter in Des Moines, IA. I was hoping to find a job and start to rebuild my life. I'm the kind of person who's kind of obstinate and I want to do things my own way. But, when I found Justin at the Goodwill of Central Iowa Career Center, I tried to learn from him.
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.
My Story: Zachary Wilson
When I graduated from high school, I wanted to work to earn money. I didn’t want to go to college. I eventually came to Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa (Des Moines) to receive support in getting a job. I wanted someone to check up on me and see if I had any problems.
My Story: Archie Gibbs
My life journey is as long as the yellow brick road. I left home at the age of 12 to go to foster care when my mother's boyfriend abused me and my seven brothers and sisters. I lost hearing in my left ear and I am partially deaf in my right ear. Living in and out of foster care taught me a lot and showed me a lot of responsibility.
My Story: Guerline Guerrier
I worked for twenty years in my family’s restaurant in Haiti, where I am born. After the earthquake in 2010, I and my two children were part of the humanitarian sponsorship program instituted by the Canadian government. Upon my arrival, I was warmly welcomed, but I then had to wait for months for my work
My Story: Diane Duquette
I was on welfare for a long time, but had always hoped to return to work. I began looking but had no success due to my age and prolonged inactivity. It was through my agent at Emploi-Québec that I heard about Goodwill Renaissance Montreal in Quebec.
My Story: Tony Murray
After my accident, I was unable to work for several years. In November 2012, I felt like it was time for me to go back to work, so I came back to Goodwill to see if I could get a job. The agency hired me to be a cashier in one of the Goodwill retail stores, and a couple of months later, I was employed at the Barksdale Air Force Base Commissary as a shelf stocker.
My Story: Steven Ikehara
After my stroke I lost a lot of confidence because you lose the ability to do a lot of things you were able to do before. Working at Goodwill has been good for my recovery. I have improved my physical abilities like walking and using my right hand. I hope to continue my recover and look forward to one day being able to work without my disability being a factor.
My Story: Nick Marich
I injured my back on September 19, 1995. I was a heavy equipment mechanic, and I was put out of work because I couldn’t do that type of work anymore. From that point, I got hooked up with an outfit called Rehab Services, a place that helps people with disabilities find employment. I went down and talked to this woman, and she basically hooked me up with Goodwill Industries Vocational Enterprises here in Duluth, MN. I currently work in the store.
