A family is a safe place where people love you unconditionally and are there for you in the hard times that life has to offer. Deb found this family with Goodwill. In 2017, Deb had 4 deaths within 4 months in her immediate family. This was a difficult time her and she went through a time of depression. Deb said what got her through the depression was her Goodwill family. After a moment of reflection and gratefulness she said, “I looked forward to coming into work because I knew I was home. I was with family”. Deb had tears in her eyes and a smile on her face when she said, “These guys were amazing. Goodwill is a family. The store managers, regional managers, all the way up to the Vilay (Chief Operating Officer) are amazing. You couldn’t ask to be treated any better.”
Deb is proud to work with Goodwill and she appreciates the work that Goodwill does in our job training programs for individuals with barriers. Deb stated with pride and thought, “The help we give our participants is amazing. They get a chance to get back into the workforce without worrying if they are going to be able to do this. Goodwill gives them a chance to prove themselves that they can do this, and nothing is beyond what you dreamed you could do. You just have to believe in yourself and I think that Goodwill makes people feel this way.”
Deb personally understands the work that Goodwill does is important and makes an impact on people. She has an autistic grandson and realizes that individuals with disabilities can get into the workforce and be successful, Deb said with optimism, “I hope that he ends up with Goodwill. At Goodwill they will be able to give him the opportunity, teaching, and the learning he would need. Goodwill has opened my eyes even more than my grandson did to how capable these people are.”
For Deb, family is important for her and she recognizes that Goodwill is home and that her Goodwill family will always be there for her no matter what. She knows that they will be here for her in the good and bad times because that is what family does for each other.