The Story Behind The Stores

Jesus

A servant’s heart describes exactly who Jesus is. Walking through the aisles of Sioux City Goodwill, you will find him helping to train new program participants on proper stocking and customer first standards. Jesus is always thinking of others and being a helping hand when needed. His work has made a great addition to the Sioux City team.

“I started working in the e-store and eventually worked myself up to training individuals on scanning books. I moved over to the retail store and was given the task of stocking new merchandise on the sales floor. I love working at Goodwill because I have the opportunity to work with others and help team members when needed. I have become more independent during my experience in the Pre-Vocational Training Program. My goals are to continue working in the retail store to gain more experience to prepare for work in the community.”

The next time you are shopping in the Sioux City Goodwill, give Jesus a warm, “Hello!”

Ysenia

You make a difference!

An opportunity and a chance to succeed is what you give to individuals in our community when you visit our retail stores to shop or donate.

Ysenia is one of the individuals whose lives have been changed through your support of Goodwill.

Ysenia works in our Sioux City store sorting clothing donations throughout the day and is working towards her goal of finding a job out in the community she is passionate about.

“I like working in the store. I love that I get the opportunity to interact and get to know people at Goodwill,” she says with excitement and a smile on her face.

Stronger communication skills is one of the essential job skills she has been working on this past year in the Pre-Vocational Job Training Program.

Goodwill’s Pre-Vocational Job Training Program teaches individuals the necessary skills to succeed in the community by providing a job experience by working in our retail stores, E-commerce, janitorial and reception desk at our Support Center.

Amy

We all want to find purpose and meaning in our daily lives. At Goodwill, our mission is to help individuals find their purpose and what they are most passionate about.

Amy is currently in the Pre-Vocational Training Program working hard on developing her valuable job skills and preparing for employment in the community. She works in both the e-store scanning books and in the retail store stocking merchandise on the sales floor.

“Working in the retail store has given me a sense of purpose. I know when I place clothing on a rack or shoes on a shelf, someone will buy it and this item will make their lives better,” Amy states with pride.

Bryce

One summer night in June, Bryce was hanging out with his friends when he was involved in a car accident where he suffered life-altering injuries.

After going through the pain and trauma of the accident, he was convinced that this was not going to keep him down.

Bryce entered the WAT Program to discover the type of employment he is physically able to do. (WAT Program is a 6-week program to assess an individual’s skills and capabilities in a work environment).

Throughout the program, Bryce has found a genuine friendship with Brian and Austin in the E-Commerce Department. They have taught Bryce valuable lessons that Bryce will always remember.

“I love the people I work with at Goodwill. Brian and Austin are amazing people. They have taught me all about hard work and respect because they exhibit these characteristics every day,” Bryce explained with a huge grin.

Vanessa

If you have browsed through the aisles of the Sioux City Goodwill lately, you might have noticed a bright, bubbly individual stocking the sales floor with the newest and best merchandise. Vanessa works hard at being observant and making sure the sales floor looks clean and organized.

“I like stocking the clothes and processing the clothing through donations. I like to work and get away from home for a little while. Working at Goodwill has helped me learn how to get along with people and treat them with respect,” Vanessa explains with a smile.

Vanessa is successfully progressing through the Pre-Vocational Training Program and is currently working on being more open and asking questions when she doesn’t understand something or needs help.