While incarcerated for drug charges, James learned about Goodwill Industries of Kentucky’s Aspire program, which provides inmates within 90 days of release from prison with pre-release job training and supportive services. To take advantage of the program, James...

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...

Timothy faced an unstable living situation due to his struggle with addiction. Over the span of two years, he alternated between living on the streets of Louisville and staying in shelters. During his time in a shelter, he met Sharon Allgeier, the program manager for...

On June 1, 2013, Lakeisha was abusing drugs inside the bathroom of her home in Bowling Green when she had a vision that led to a turning point in her life. “My daughter was going to find me overdosed in the bathroom,” she said. “When I felt that, I immediately came...

  Eleven years ago, Aneica was sentenced to eight years in an Indiana prison for drug charges. When she was released, she transferred her parole to her hometown of Hazard, Kentucky. As a 12-time convicted felon, Aneica had a hard time finding someone to hire her...

For four days and five nights, Sergio and his family were trapped inside their home by Hurricane Katrina. After being rescued and seeking refuge with family in Chicago, he and his family moved back to New Orleans, but the cost of living had gone up, reliable...

Trevor wasn’t able to finish high school because he spent most of his time taking care of his ailing grandmother. As a result, his employment chances were limited. After years of working in fast food, Trevor decided to try something new. He applied to Goodwill and was...

Anthony, who goes by Tony, has shown resilience and determination throughout his journey of personal and professional growth at Goodwill. Since May of this year, he has overcome numerous challenges and achieved milestones that have reshaped his life. Tony’s biggest...

Because of Dillon’s justice-involved background, he couldn’t find reliable employment that would allow him to rebuild his life. After working at Long John Silver’s for years, Dillon said, he “was tired of slaving over hot grease and wanted more” for himself. He began...

After serving 16 months in prison for drug trafficking, Michael was determined to turn his life around. The first step was enrolling in SOKY Sober Living in Bowling Green, where he found a network of individuals who understood his struggles. Shortly after, he learned...

Holly was living a good life with reliable employment before drugs began to take over. During her time in drug court, Holly learned about our programs and services, which ultimately led to her employment at our Paducah store. She said her teammates are like an...

An abusive relationship led Christina down a dark path of addiction and incarceration. After four years in prison, she tried to convince her son he was better off without her. She said that was her rock bottom. She checked herself into rehab and “turned to God.” Not...

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. A friend who worked at Goodwill’s Paducah store reached out to tell her they were hiring. Just...

Without reliable transportation, Amber couldn’t search for a better job to better support her family. But that changed on Wednesday, October 2 when she was gifted a vehicle through the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides Program and the Goodwill Cars to Work...

  This week, we at Goodwill Industries of Kentucky observes National Employ Older Workers Week, a time to acknowledge the vital role of older workers in the workforce. At Goodwill, we serve individuals 55 years old or older through our Senior Community Service...

In 2019, Paula became unhoused in her hometown of Bowling Green. During that time, she stayed with friends but could never get back on her feet due to multiple illnesses and disabilities. “I didn’t have enough money saved up on my own,” she said. “I was so sick that I...

On November 11, 2023, Levi was assigned to a halfway house in Paducah. Following his assignment, he started searching for career-readiness opportunities so he could prepare himself for his release on November 11, 2025. That’s when he learned about the programs and...

Meet a member of our commercial services team, LC, who may or may not be known as “the greatest janitor in the world.” “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to work for Goodwill. The dream began while thrift shopping with my mom,” LC said. “After I got out of prison, my...

Earlier this year, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council awarded Goodwill $400,000 to facilitate a new housing program called Hand Up for Housing. Through the program, Goodwill helps eligible clients obtain stable housing, pays their first month’s rent and...