Due to a battle with heroin and methamphetamine addiction, Laci became homeless and lost custody of her daughter. Despite her determination to turn her life around, she was denied access to proper treatment in Tennessee.
That roadblock led Laci to Kentucky, where she was able to secure health insurance and find the help she needed. At that time, she ran into another barrier: she found a job but was told she wouldn’t be promoted because of her background.
“I immediately said to myself, ‘I need to go somewhere else,’” she said. “Some people I was in treatment with said ‘I work at Goodwill. Your background doesn’t hold you back.’ So, I came to Goodwill.”
Within three weeks of being hired at the Northfield Goodwill store in Louisville, Laci was promoted to assistant manager. She now works as an assistant manager II and helps operate Goodwill’s e-commerce stores.
More importantly, Laci now lives in her own home with her fiancé, and she was able to regain custody of her now 10-year-old daughter. She said two of her Goodwill coworkers drove her to Colorado to pick her up and bring her to Louisville.
Laci also has a 1-year-old daughter. While she was pregnant, she said Goodwill helped pay her rent. She said Goodwill has also helped pay to regain her license.
“I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today if I wasn’t in an environment that loves on you and is understanding,” she said.
Laci said it “hasn’t just been one person” who has helped her along her journey but gives credit to her store managers and career coaches for her turnaround.
“Goodwill has done a lot for my family,” she said. “They help me with all kinds of resources. Because I didn’t have anything when I got here. I really love working here. I love everything that they stand for.”