Category: Success Stories

Callista had a stroke that left her paralyzed. She lost function in half of her body, and needed to use a wheelchair. Now she’s walking on her own and plans to dance at her upcoming wedding. She gets support from her Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist at Goodwill NeuroRehab. Goodwill is way more than just a store. We caught up…

When Debra took time off to stay home with her kids, she certainly didn’t think that break would last 17 years. But it did, and in that time her eyesight got worse until she was legally blind. Earlier this year, she said she wanted to work again, so her Goodwill vocational rehabilitation coach and her Goodwill career adviser worked with…

Patrick lives in a Goodwill staffed group home in Southern Maine. He’s is a fun guy who loves the Patriots and Pink Floyd and riding bikes. This year he has come a long way in developing friendships and positive relationships with his housemates. He is friendly with staff and is always a good sport. This year Patrick also showed that…

David was working at the local grocery store when he got sick with a cold. That cold found its way into his heart, which eventually caused him to go into heart failure. He went through surgeries, survived a three-week coma, and was put on a heart transplant waiting list. On July 22, 2008 he got a new heart. “The whole…

For some teenagers with disabilities, it can be hard to stay motivated throughout high school, especially if they’re unsure what comes next. Essex High School in Vermont’s Employment Program gives students who have a disability a chance to be a part of the workforce while still in school. Goodwill stores are one of the places these students try out different…

When high school ends, it can be challenging deciding what to do next. The past two years have been especially difficult for many recent graduates who started college online due to COVID-19. Neo realized quickly that online college was not for her, but she wasn’t sure what to do. Fortunately, she was enrolled in the Workforce Solutions COVID-19 Youth Cohort grant….

Birindwa has faced many challenges in his life. He survived polio as a child in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As an adult, he worked at a non-profit to help polio survivors with prosthetics. Birindwa put his life in danger helping people with disabilities in the DRC, he said. Ultimately, he escaped the DRC to the US. He…

Tangie Ripley is easy to talk to. It’s one of the qualities that makes her a great career advisor at Goodwill Northern New England in Belfast, Maine. She’s welcoming and funny, but her relatability comes from more than just her lively and good-humored personality — it comes from personal experience. She has walked in the same shoes as many of…

In 2014, Keeley had a psychotic break that left her hospitalized for two years. In that time she gained tools to help her live with bipolar disorder. After two years in a psychiatric hospital, Keeley was ready to work … but no one would hire her. “It was nearly impossible to find a job,” she said. “No one wants to…

Irene watched her parents struggle in Greece, where she’s from. She dreamed of coming to the United States and making her own way. When she found a job at Goodwill in New Hampshire, her English began to improve and so did her confidence … those things led her to asking her wife on a first date. Irene worked her way…

We received this letter from a Rutland, Vermont workforce participant and we had to share her success: My name is Melissa Van Guilder (formerly Shanholtzer), and I am writing to share my experiences with Goodwill Northern New England. I literally had zero idea what Goodwill did, I just happen to know Sherri Prouty, and she said that sometimes Goodwill helps people…

When Ben Sawyer saw a flyer offering help to anyone affected by opioids, he jumped at the chance. By that point he’d been unemployed for eight months, and his unemployment benefits weren’t enough for his family of four. He needed work — and like many people who have battled addiction, he needed a second chance. Now, with some help from…

Vanessa MacDougal isn’t the type to hem and haw. When the 19-year-old meets an unexpected challenge or opportunity, she chooses her path and pursues it at full speed.  But the last couple of years have presented the teenager with some tough situations, and she wasn’t always sure where to turn. With a bit of help from Goodwill Workforce Services staff, Vanessa…