When Mallory was released from prison two years ago, she said her family “wanted nothing to do” with her, so she wasn’t sure where to turn to start rebuilding her life.
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friend who worked at Goodwill’s Paducah store reached out to tell her they were hiring. Just eight days after her release, she was hired.
“I contacted her to let her know I was home,” she said. “We got to talking, and she said, ‘Hey, we have an opening where I’m at.’ I was like, ‘Goodwill?’ I thought that was all volunteers. She shot me an application, and here I am.”
Mallory hit the ground running with help from her Career Coach, Josh. She’s been promoted to Team Lead and now serves as an Assistant Manager. And she’s already received peer support training to help others who are or have been in her shoes.
“When I started here, I had no confidence in myself,” she said. “But them trusting me has helped me build confidence in myself – knowing that I am worth something, and I can do great things.”
Now, she said she’s preparing to go back to school for accounting, something she said has “always been a dream.” She plans to utilize Goodwill’s tuition reimbursement.
Most important of all, Mallory has reconnected with her family. So much so that her sister allows her to babysit her children.
“They were a little weary when I first got home,” she said. “I live with all three of my children now. My family invites me over, my sister has trusted me to watch her children and be alone in her home. Before, they wouldn’t even leave the room with me by myself. It’s really done a lot for me.”