After a cycle of jail time and rehabilitation, Amy knew she had to leave her hometown of Paducah if she wanted to recover. She was staying at a community-based housing facility in Lexington in 2020 when she learned that Goodwill is a second-chance employer. In spite...

Benita was completing paid training through our Senior Community Service & Employment Program (SCSEP) at our Scottsville Road store in Bowling Green when the manager noticed her strong work ethic and offered her a permanent position as a Goodwill staff member. For...

  Shirley, who was a single mother most of her daughter’s life, spent years working in the restaurant industry. She was shopping at Goodwill to purchase khakis for her job when she inquired about employment. The manager put her in contact with Kimberly, a career...

In 2020, Brittany was sentenced to 13 months in jail for drug charges. When she was released, she said she was “lost.” “I didn’t have a direction,” Brittany said. “I applied for many jobs, and they would all turn me down because of my record.” That’s when Brittany’s...

Nyeshia didn’t get the chance to finish high school when she was a teenager because of several distractions in her life, but her dream of getting her high school diploma never died – because she wanted to show her daughter, Na Na, that school is important. After...

“I have multiple felonies. I thought I would have to work in a factory for the rest of my life. I never thought I could be anything. Not only did Goodwill give me a chance to work there, but they helped me leave.” Tracy was living in a sober living home when she...

In Joshua’s past, he ran with the wrong people and “got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time,” which led to a drug charge and a two-year sentence in a federal penitentiary in Kansas. When he was released, he was sent to a halfway house in Bowling Green, two...

In 2012, after losing his job at a local pizza joint that closed down, Joseph was introduced to Goodwill through Life Skills, an agency designed to connect people with disabilities to the resources they need. In Joseph’s case, that was employment. For the last two...

While other children were playing at age 11, Erica was selling drugs. “I come from a long line of convicted felons,” she explained. “I was molested at a young age, and I started doing drugs to cover up the pain. In my family, you weren’t allowed to show emotions; it...

In need of a second chance due to her background, Kelsey came to Goodwill looking for a fresh start. She was hired as a production clerk at our Georgetown location and has since been certified as a hanger.   She was matched with a free Goodwill career coach, Ashley,...

Brandon, a father of two, was working in fast food for three years when he came across a material handler position at our 2nd Chance Outlet in Louisville. “I needed a change of life. I was caretaking for my grandmother full time,” he explained. “My wife and I were...

After exiting jail, Tony was in rehabilitation at St. Anne’s in Louisville, where he heard a presentation about Goodwill. Then, prior to being released, he attended a career night at our Opportunity Center on Broadway in Louisville. “That’s how I found out there was...

When Dub lost nearly everyone and everything he had and was left with only an apartment to live in, he wasn’t sure what to do to start building his life back up again. Dub’s need for affordable household items led him to the Goodwill 2nd Chance Outlet in Louisville....

Boone was born into poverty and as a result became homeless. He was able to find places to stay with different relatives, but he couldn’t find an opportunity to escape that cycle – until he was introduced to Goodwill nine months ago. “Every direction I tried on my...

May is Older Americans Month, a time to recognize the countless contributions that older adults make to our communities. At Goodwill, we celebrate Older Americans Month by sharing stories from our Senior Community Service & Employment Program (SCSEP), a program...

Kenny struggled on and off with addiction for 27 years before experiencing rock bottom, which came in the form of overdosing in a dumpster. He relocated to Kentucky for treatment, but was without a home, job, vehicle or support system, his addiction having destroyed...

Today, April 6, Angela is celebrating six months of sobriety after struggling with addiction for 30 years. As we recognize National Second Chance Month in April, we wanted to share her story and join in her celebration: Last year, Angela was arrested and spent 17 days...

When Claire was 19 years old, she made a mistake that put a blemish on her criminal background. While applying for a job last year, she was denied because of that record. Without the means to hire an attorney to have her record expunged, Claire didn’t have many...

Heather didn’t have a good childhood. Growing up in Covington, Kentucky, she was faced with family issues that eventually led her down a dark path. “That led me to using drugs and hanging out with the wrong people," she said. "I kept hanging out with the wrong people...

Originally from Louisiana, Akeim and his family were forced to move to Texas after Hurricane Katrina ripped through their community in 2005. Not long after, Akeim fell for a girl who lived in Kentucky. After experiencing multiple family issues, he wanted to find a way...