Candace was scheduled to finish high school in 1988, but life had other plans. Due to unforeseen circumstances, she wasn’t able to finish—until now. More than three decades later, Candace proudly crossed the stage as a graduate of The Excel Center® during its 2025...

Cassandra faced several challenges from a young age: growing up and aging out of foster care, becoming a single mother, and experiencing homelessness. Financial stability seemed out of reach, and at one point, she even had her child taken away from her. Through...

When Bryan first connected with Goodwill Kentucky, he wasn’t sure what to expect. He had visible needs and was uncertain about how to begin his journey back into the workforce. But that uncertainty faded after his first visit to the Lexington Opportunity Center. “I...

When Donald stepped onto the TARC bus fresh out of a halfway house, he wasn’t sure where his life was headed—only that it needed to be different. He approached a stranger and asked a simple question: “Which bus do I need to take?” That question sparked a conversation...

  When Aaron was released from a 12-year prison sentence, he needed a second chance to reintegrate into society and ultimately achieve his goal of building a successful trucking company. To do that, he needed to find reliable employment. One of Aaron’s friends...

Brooke endured an abusive relationship for 20 years, which resulted in her using drugs to cope. That ultimately led to her incarceration. As she was preparing for her release, Brooke took part in a workshop for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky’s Aspire program, which...

While still incarcerated, Julia learned about the second-chance employment opportunities and more offered by Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, which she said "stuck" with her. After her release, she was turned down from a job because of her background, but she knew...

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...