After years of struggling with addiction, Brian completed rehab and an intensive outpatient program, but he was still left needing basic resources to rebuild his life.
That changed with a visit to the Goodwill Kentucky Lexington Opportunity Center—and the timing couldn’t have been better.
“They helped me get my driver’s license and paid for it,” he said. “They provided me with a bus pass. I kept going in and applying for jobs. They helped me fill out applications, and that’s when I got the job here. It was two days before I would have been out on the street.”
In January, Brian was hired as a production clerk at our Mapleleaf store in Lexington. While working, he continued building his skills at the Opportunity Center, earning his Customer Service Certification. He also recently took advantage of GoodSmiles, a Goodwill Kentucky employee benefit program that provides up to $5,000 for dental work not covered by insurance, leaving him with a brand-new smile to match his fresh start.
“[Goodwill] is a lifesaver,” he said. “It keeps me off the street. I’m happy to be here and thankful to have a job.”
Today, Brian is beginning to explore new opportunities beyond Goodwill Kentucky, but says he feels a sense of stability he hasn’t experienced in years, something he credits to his “wonderful, supportive” teammates.