In her hometown of Chicago, Patricia experienced trauma that led her down a path of addiction.
“I wanted the nightmares to stop,” she said. “I started doing drugs. It progressed to other drugs. Then, I became involved with the wrong crowds.”
Twenty years ago, Patricia moved to Louisville to change her life. She wanted to leave behind the abuse and instability that caused her to lose jobs and, eventually, her home.
“A friend brought me here from Chicago,” she said. “He was already in recovery. In 2006, I got into recovery. I saw so many people die while I was in Chicago. I was like, ‘I don’t want to die.’”
After finishing rehab at Wayside Christian Mission, Patricia was connected to Goodwill Kentucky. She completed job-readiness training and was hired at the Downtown Louisville store. Later, she transferred to the Northfield location, where Chad, senior store manager, and Ronrico, her career coach, helped her find the right role.
“They saw something in me,” she said. “I became a material handler, and I love it. I still talk to people and try to help when I can.”
Patricia says Goodwill gave her more than a job.
“Whatever you’re facing, you’re not alone [at Goodwill],” she said.
Today, Patricia has been sober for 19 years and still works at the Northfield store. She also recently published a book, God Has His Angels Around Us, which honors those lost to addiction, abuse, and hardship while reminding others that they are not alone. Chad was the first person to read it.
Patricia has also written more books, poems, and songs, many inspired by her life experiences, some at Goodwill.
“I got out of that direction to do something different with my life,” she said. “I lived it, and I came out of that, and I won’t let anyone stop me or put me down.”