GOODWILL Success Stories
All Laura needed was a second chance
All Laura needed was a second chance. After being released from prison in November of 2019, she wasn’t sure she’d ever get one. As a result of her addiction, she lost nearly everything she had, including custody of her children. That was before she got a job at the...
Lory found employment through SCSEP
For nearly three decades, Lory and her husband owned their own business on the east coast. When her husband unexpectedly passed away, Lory knew she couldn’t afford the cost of living in their current home. She purchased a mobile home and relocated to Barbourville. “I...
Story Behind the Stores: Shannon
All Shannon wanted was a chance. Having endured the hardships that come with cerebral palsy her entire life, Shannon has gone through her share of ups and downs. She often got bored sitting at home, so she turned to Goodwill. She completed our Soft Skills Academy in...
Story Behind the Stores: Lukas
Lukas has struggled in many ways despite being gifted with an off-the-charts IQ level. He lacked interpersonal skills, and as a result, his personal and working relationships suffered. “I could do anything, but I couldn’t keep a job,” he said. A native of Lexington,...
Story Behind the Stores: Dathan, Fairview
In addition to celebrating women’s history, March is also National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness for the inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities. At Goodwill, we pride ourselves on breaking barriers individuals...
Story Behind the Stores: Lisa, Scottsville Road
After being released from prison in January of 2016, Lisa was eager to prove herself but worried she wouldn’t be given a second chance. But less than one month after her release, she began her new career at our Scottsville Road location in Bowling Green. Since being...
Story Behind the Stores: Tina
When asked how long her jail sentence was, Tina replied, “Which time?” For 30 years, Tina struggled with substance abuse, which resulted in decades of criminal behavior. When her son started to go down the same road, she knew it was time for recovery. “I had to make a...
Story Behind the Stores: Zenobia
Zenobia, a 56-year-old Lexington native who comes from a background of poverty and domestic abuse, has spent more than 40% of her life in jail. She was released from her most recent stint in April of 2020. She was breathing but said she felt lifeless. Zenobia was...
Story Behind the Stores: Claudette Collins, Power of Work
Some people are inclined to believe everything happens for a reason. Claudette Collins, a participant of the Power of Work program, is one of those people. A 49-year-old Lexington native, Claudette was introduced to one of her many reasons while working toward a...
Story Behind the Stores: Charles
Previously a greeter at Walmart, Charles was laid off and in search of a new employment opportunity. He was referred to the Senior Community Service & Employment Program (SCSEP), operated by Goodwill. Through SCSEP, Goodwill matches eligible individuals age 55 and...
Story Behind the Stores: Kevin
For 40 years, Kevin read the classic novella, A Christmas Carol, but could never relate to the protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge – until 2018 and 2019. In those two years, he buried five people he cared about. “I went from a $40,000 career to destitution in one day,”...
Story Behind the Stores: Abdullatif
Abdullatif Dalati fled his home country of Syria nearly a decade ago, amid the ongoing civil war. He spent time in Turkey before relocating to Louisville in 2015. Abdullatif is the latest in a long line of family members to become a chef and own their own restaurant,...
Story Behind the Stores: Mindy
We are excited to announce Mindy as our new retail merchandising manager! Mindy’s path to this position wasn’t always an easy one. A former pharmacy technician, Mindy suffered from undiagnosed Celiac disease. “It felt like I was constantly being stabbed,” Mindy...
Story Behind the Stores: Latoya
Latoya endured a difficult divorce in 2014. A single mother of three children, she struggled for years as a result of that hardship. In 2018, she realized it was time for a career shift. A friend informed her of an open cashier position with our Paducah team. She...
Story Behind the Stores: Charlotte
For five years, Charlotte found herself in an abusive relationship. Once she had enough courage to exit that relationship, she ended up marrying a person who was abusing drugs. His substance use was causing fights, and Charlotte submitted to the "if you can’t beat...
