Creighton

Before coming to Goodwill, Creighton and his family were uncertain where his life was heading due to his intellectual disability. Through the Power of Work, Creighton is a shining example of how meaningful work has transformed his life.

A lifelong supporter of Goodwill, Creighton learned to count money by shopping at Goodwill Store & Donation Centers with his mom. He was always excited to come home with new treasures. After he suffered a serious illness, Creighton’s mother, Toni, knew it was time for Creighton to find a job that would not only lift his spirits, but also give him purpose.

As a single mother with three special needs children, Gail found success at Goodwill and overcame a number of challenges. She now has confidence in herself and a job she loves.

For someone with a criminal background, finding a path to work can be difficult. Getting an employer to take a chance is often one of the biggest barriers. For Tiffany, work was the way to independence, but the path was not easy.

After living in an abusive home, Tiffany found herself homeless and relied on staying at various shelters in Milwaukee with her two young children. One afternoon, Tiffany was with a friend, got caught in the middle of a violent situation and ended up being a party to a crime. With an open case against her, Tiffany was asked to leave the shelter with her two young children. While living at a new shelter in Waukesha, Tiffany learned about Goodwill’s Workforce Connection Center and knew it was time for a change.

Willie is proof that you can change the path of your life and not allow a past criminal record to determine what you can achieve. As Willie shares, “I’m not defined by one bad act, or one good act. It all defines who I am.” Goodwill has helped Willie with that journey.

Despite owning a successful barbershop business for many years, Willie began hanging with the wrong crowd and trouble caught up with him. After being incarcerated three times, for a total of 12 years, Willie found his criminal history a barrier to achieving permanent employment. With only temporary jobs on the horizon, he didn’t have the stability he needed for his wife and growing family.

We all go through life hoping to find our dream job, and if we're lucky, we might just find it. Dakota, a young man with autism and a cognitive disability, found his dream job through the Power of Work.

Since Dakota was seven years old, he has wanted to work at a library – to feel connected to the books and stories that take him to another place. Hoping to help her son achieve his dream, Dakota’s mom, Sandy, reached out to Goodwill EmpowerOne and shared his hopes and aspirations with Goodwill job coaches. Through EmpowerOne, individuals with disabilities build the skills and independence needed to be successful both in employment and their community.

Debra's Story - Working at the YMCA

Meet Debra. She's an inspiration to everyone she greets and works with at the YMCA.

For participants in Goodwill’s Day Services programs, success is often measured in developing the confidence and independence needed to lead more productive and active lives in the community. In our Day Services Clubhouse model, our participants progress in these skills by exploring community resources, health and wellness activities, arts and enrichment classes, and community integration. Many of these individuals hold part time jobs in the community on days they do not attend Goodwill programs and appreciate the personalized, engaging approach to building independent living, social and communication, and self-advocacy skills that Clubhouse provides.

If you stop by Wags & Barks in Slinger, WI you can see Beth cleaning the facility and talking and singing to the dogs. According to owner Debbie S., “The place has never looked so clean!”

Beth depends upon her parents and brother Scott for daily living, transportation and communication. She always had the desire to find a job, but she had limited employment experience; the last time Beth had worked was on a farm over 30 years ago.

After Stephen graduated from high school and started college, he wanted to find a job that could fit into his schedule. To get Stephen started, his Division of Vocation Rehabilitation (DVR) counselor referred him to Goodwill’s Workforce Development team through the Alternative Workforce Supplier Program (AWSP), a unique employment partnership with the largest e-commerce sortation facility in Kenosha.