Updates

Donavon Palmieri found himself unemployed, but knew he wanted to go back to school and get his CDL license. He also knew Maine needed more truck drivers, but he didn’t know how to achieve this goal. With a child on the way, Donavon’s desire to get back to work increased. He connected with Goodwill Northern New England’s SNAP E&T Program,…

When he left prison, Ben wanted to work and start over in his community. But he faced limited job options. That is until he found a job at the Topsham Goodwill store and met Hillary.  “All I needed was a chance to get into the door,” said Ben. “Here I am today eight years later.” Goodwill gave Ben a chance,…

Finding and keeping good work can be challenging. For employees who have disabilities, this can be even more difficult. Stephanie found a job she loves and fits her abilities working at Goodwill. Stephanie is an E-Commerce sales associate for Goodwill. She’s been with Goodwill for over nine years.  “Goodwill accepted my challenge: Hire someone who can only work 15 hours…

Keeley Moseley lives with bipolar disorder, along with a few other comorbidities. Having a mental illness presents many challenges for Keeley in her personal life and work life. But it’s not all bad. Bipolar disorder taught Keeley to have empathy and compassion for others, she said.   “The biggest thing I wish other people understood about those of us with disabilities…

Helen sought a fresh start for her and her children upon returning to Maine. After being a stay-at-home mom for more than a decade, she was uncertain about her next steps. Helen met with the Workforce Solutions team and set a goal to work in finance. Helen looked for career resources at Fedcap, a workforce development organization, and they referred…

Evan Hall has cerebral palsy and hadn’t thought much about working until he participated in a Goodwill disability service for high schoolers called Bootcamp. Through Bootcamp, Evan realized he can work and now he wants to pursue his dream job — as a wheelchair tester. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance…

Victoria Winslow was looking for a new place to work when she discovered a dining assistant position at Quarry Hill. A few months into Victoria’s new role, a nurse at Quarry Hill suggested Victoria become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) — a higher-paying job, that felt more meaningful. Victoria connected with the Workforce Solutions team and received the emotional and…