Updates

Tim Johnson applied to numerous jobs while in school but kept getting rejection letters. He finally got connected with Goodwill who helped him pay for college, land his dream job and manage his disability. Tim has Bipolar Disorder, which is difficult to manage without the medication he needs. When he was unemployed and earning his degree, Tim didn’t have access…

Trevon Butler knows what it is like to feel different. As a black man living in central Maine, he knows that feeling of entering a room and people looking at you. It is when you to get that sense that “different” equals “less than.” Trevon flipped this narrative and uses it as a strength. He uses his voice as a…

Chad Leighton has helped more than 50 people with disabilities find a career in the community. Within Goodwill, he’s called “The Job Whisperer.” Chad works for Goodwill’s Workforce Services. When a client has a tough time finding a job, Chad’s patience, persistence, and a good attitude are the keys to helping his clients land a great career opportunity.  For one client, it took over a…

For the last four months Amanda Merrifield has worked at a Goodwill warehouse – while in prison. She was incarcerated for nearly four years, and recently finished her sentence. Amanda is one of many women who got a second chance through the Women’s Reentry Program, and successfully transitioned out of prison into a career at Goodwill NNE. Amanda works full-time…

Recently, one morning, the Workforce Solutions* office in Portland, Maine was bustling with activity. Ken Hull, Program Coordinator, popped up from his desk. With a big smile, he greeted a young woman, who was holding a baby in a carrier. Not knowing where to start, she expressed her interest in a pursuing nursing career. Ken shared some entry-level training programs…

When Melissa Price first walked into Goodwill’s LifeWorks Deaf Services she thought, “I think I’m home.” With her degree in Linguistics and American Sign Language (ASL), she was initially not sure what to do when she graduated. But, after hearing her classmates talk about LifeWorks Deaf Services, she found her way there initially as a volunteer. It wasn’t long before…

A few months ago, Tammy Parker made her dream come true and now works at the Mill Creek store in South Portland, Maine. Tammy doesn’t have a car, so she walks across the Casco Bay bridge to work every day. She loves her job so much, and says all of her coworkers are nice, helping each other get their work…

Rajaa Allahan picked up a kids’ board game called Guess Who? from the blue hamper full of items. She deftly flipped it around, looked inside, and placed a $2 tag on it. Her hands moved fast as she reached for the next donated item. Once she reviews and tags the items, she places them on the sales floor. Rajaa can…