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Horizon Goodwill Industries

Craig Foster

What Does Opportunity Look Like?

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein

This is Brian Lee. He is a 41-year-old, single father of Morgan, his 3-year-old little girl.

Initially, Brian came to Horizon Goodwill as a Community Service Worker seeking to complete hours necessary to maintain his temporary cash assistance from the Department of Social Services. His story is one of finding opportunity in the middle of difficulty – of asking for help in removing the barriers you face and making the most of what happens next.

Hi, my name is Brian. I am a 41-year-old, single father with a 3-year-old little girl. I came to Horizon Goodwill in Spring of 2017 to complete mandatory community service hours in order to keep our food stamps. At the time, I was homeless – we were homeless. Think about if you didn’t have a bed for you little girl to sleep in at night? A safe, warm place for her to play? I wasn’t providing for her, and it made me feel angry and useless. There seemed to be so many things in my way. I didn’t know what to do.

After I received food stamps and assistance at Washington County Department of Social Services, they referred me to Horizon Goodwill to complete my 60 hours of mandatory service. There I met a whole team of Horizon Goodwill staff. When I completed my hours, I enrolled in Horizon Goodwill’s Get Onboard! 10-day job readiness program. That’s where I met Tammy, our job readiness instructor. I learned about conflict management on the job, dusted off my basic math and literacy with GED prep classes, completed my resume, and got my first interview outfit for free. Really, though, what Tammy taught me – it’s hard to explain, but she made me feel like I could do this. I could take care of my daughter the right way. The Goodwill team got us into a shelter, and by then I graduated into the paid work training program.

Over the last 7 months, Goodwill has done so much for me. Every time I think of Tammy, I am so grateful – but not just me, for my little girl. I got my forklift certification, I have a job, and now I have my own place for me and my daughter. It’s so great. For anyone who wants to do anything with their life and move on and up, this is the place for you. If you want a better life, come to Goodwill. It will be the best decision you ever made.

To learn more, check us out on Facebook, Twitter and our website, www.horizongoodwill.org. You can also email me at cfleming@goodwill-hgi.org.

Let’s CELEBRATE one of our own!

Johnathon HarrellLet’s take a moment to celebrate one of our own.

Johnathon Harrell, IT Manager at Corporate Center, has been employed with Horizon Goodwill since October of 2012.

Before coming onboard with Goodwill, Johnathon dealt with a history of drug addiction and was incarcerated in 2011. While incarcerated, Johnathon came to Goodwill as a client through the work release partnership between Horizon Goodwill and Washington County Detention Center. Upon his release from incarceration, Johnathon continued working and receiving services as a client through the job training program with Goodwill.

Johnathon started out his journey with Horizon Goodwill as a sorter in the processing department. From there, he learned how to operate the baler, was an E&M tester, and was then promoted to Lead Assistant/Aide. While working in the processing department as a client, Johnathon went back to college and earned his associate’s degree in IT. His supervisor acknowledged his potential, and encouraged him to apply for a full-time core position. It was then that Johnathon was given the opportunity to work as an IT Assistant. During his almost three-year tenure as IT Assistant, Johnathon attended Kaplan University through evening, weekend and online courses to obtain his bachelor’s degree in cyber-security. Johnathon was promoted to his current role of IT Manager in December of 2017.

Born and raised in Williamsport, MD, Johnathon has a passion for music and electrical engineering. His number one priority is his family: wife, Katie, and six children: McKenzie (17), Austin (13), Kailer (11), Mason (10), Landon (5), and Natalie (3). “Having been through the Goodwill program, I am now better equipped to provide my family and children a better quality of life.”

When asked to share an experience that made a difference to him, Johnathon discussed his time working at the Apple Blossom Festival in Shenandoah County, VA. He states, “I have worked the festival for several years in a row. In working alongside current and past clients, I have witnessed firsthand their transformation. Their barriers are being faced head on and overcome. As a result, these individuals have a better quality of life. They are valuable, hard workers. The experience is always very rewarding, and I love knowing that I can be a part of that transformation for others.”

Reflecting on what he’s most proud of, Johnathon said, “I have been able to overcome my personal barriers and have achieved my dream of working in IT. I could not have done that without the support of Horizon Goodwill.”

We are extremely proud of Johnathon’s success and look forward to celebrating his future accomplishments as he grows in his current role.

 

 

 

Let’s Celebrate One of Our Own!

Let’s take a moment to celebrate one of our own.

Linda Vailati, Romney Store Manager

Linda Vailati, Romney Store manager, has been employed with Goodwill since August 2010 as a sales associate. She was promoted to store manager in August 2017.

Linda was born and raised in New Jersey. During her teen years, her family moved to Mechanicsville, MD. She then relocated to Romney, WV in 2008.

When asked about hobbies, Linda said, “family is everything to me.” After experiencing the loss of her youngest son, Daniel, who passed last October at age 32, Linda knows how precious life can be.  She takes every opportunity to spend with her other two sons Ronnie and Justin, and their families. It’s hard to imagine, but Linda is a grandmother of 4 and great grandmother of 1 (with another great grandbaby due any day).

Because of Linda’s love for animals, it was only natural that she take in Danny’s rescue animals when he passed.   His dog, Blacky, a wild haired Terrier, and cats, Pizza and Pepperoni, keep her very busy when she is not working. When she has time, Linda also enjoys tinkering in the garden and canoeing.

Linda enjoys Goodwill because of the employees and customers. Because her family is so far away, her employees are like an extended family. When asked about Goodwill life, Linda said:

“Goodwill gives me the opportunity to help others by hiring those that can’t find jobs elsewhere. Jobs are far and few between. Many applicants just need a chance. I like to look past the surface and evaluate what attributes a person can bring to Goodwill.

We also have great people here in Romney. Our community goes out of its way to help each other. Often people come in that are down on their luck. Some have had a house fire or were homeless. There have been many circumstances when our customers have overheard another customer talking about their situation and then leave money at the counter to pay for the person’s items. It warms my heart.”

We are excited to celebrate Linda and her continued success.

Horizon Goodwill Joins the Little Free Library Movement!

little boy taking a book to read
Give a book, take a book. It’s free and it makes a difference!

Horizon Goodwill Industries is so excited to announce that we will be putting up a Little Free Library (LFL) at our 200 North Prospect Street location in downtown Hagerstown.  Little Free Libraries’ ‘Give a Book, Take a Book’ principle inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around our communities. Through Little Libraries, millions of books are exchanged each year, increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds.

Locally, the LFL initiative was started by the Washington County Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) three years ago.  ECAC is partnered with Washington County Public Schools to have 25 libraries created, and the LFL team purchased the required charters and work to provide the first set of books so that organizations could “adopt” them easily.

Over the last two years, Horizon Goodwill has donated thousands of books to teachers in the region.  In partnership with Washington, Berkeley, and Jefferson County Public Schools, Goodwill provides grade/age specific books to new and incoming teachers before the start of a new school year.

This year, our Mission Team at Horizon Goodwill is working with Terri Gwizdala at ECAC to get our 1st (of hopefully many) installed and open to the public before Christmas.  Even more exciting too: Goodwill’s LFL will be a wooden box build by Tech High students!  Terri shared that, “To date, we [ECAC] have 37 libraries established in the [Washington] county, and currently have a wait list for 14 more.  When we reach 50 libraries, the county will create an interactive map with all locations.”

Increasing access to books and providing opportunities for people of all ages to read more directly aligns with our Goodwill’s mission of “Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunities”.  Little Free Libraries help us ensure that everyone has the chance to realize and achieve their fullest potential.

For more information and to test out other communities’ interactive maps, check out the LFL website at www.littlefreelibrary.org.

If you have questions, or need additional information, please contact Terri Gwizdala (ecacwashcomd@gmail.com or 301-310-6263) or Kathy Kerns (kernskat@wcps.k12.md.us).

Horizon Goodwill has fun at Hagerstown Hispanic Festival

Carla's crew
A hearty crew of Goodwill staff and volunteers!

“The aroma of grilled food wafted across Fairgrounds Park Sunday afternoon as people chose from a menu that included ribs, steak, tacos, burritos and tamales. Other spectators moved to a steady beat of music in an atmosphere of hope and self-improvement.  At this time of year, such a backdrop means one thing: It’s time for the annual Hagerstown Hispanic Festival.”  – Joe Crocetta, Herald Mail (09/13/15)

I could not have said it better myself!  After spending last Sunday October 1st representing Horizon Goodwill at the 2017 Hagerstown Hispanic Festival, “an atmosphere of hope and self-improvement” is spot on and perhaps needed today more than ever.  If you haven’t been to the this festival, you are absolutely missing out on one of the most enriching celebrations of community and culture that I have ever experienced.  For those of you who have attended, you know what I am talking about.

Organized by the Hispanic Association of Hagerstown, the Annual Hagerstown Hispanic Festival is a daylong celebration that includes live music, community resources, and vendors, and is designed to celebrate and share Hispanic culture with festival goers.  Numerous organizations man booths and tables to people about opportunities in health and education.  Vendors sold cultural food, clothing and wares.

 

Represent!
Goodwill’s Board Chair Ron Bowers connecting us w/ Caitlin M Ainge from Representative Delaney’s office & Julianna M Albowicz from Senator Van Hollen’s office.

Diana Reyes, president of the association, and Sila Alegret-Bartel, vice president, remarked Sunday about how vendors and major sponsors of the festival have steadily increased. “Our country is divided right now, and I think we’re just at a time when we want to celebrate our culture in a positive way,” said Reyes as hundreds of people walked, danced and played around the festival grounds.

Our Goodwill Assistant Career Assessment and Evaluator, Carla Stickler invited her close friends to volunteer and along with Goodwill’s very own Americorp member and Salisbury University intern, Delores Agrinzonis – these strong and wonderful woman shared Goodwill’s mission of removing barriers and creating opportunities with attendees representing so many cultures and using so many different languages.   A big thanks to this group of volunteers and staff for all they did to help Goodwill remove the barrier of languages!

hooray
The crew: Carla and Dolores!

“We’re all volunteers. None of us get paid,” said Alegret-Bartel, who is president of International Corporate Training & Marketing, a Hagerstown-based company that offers, among other things, translation and interpretive services in 16 languages, as well as Hispanic marketing.  Sila Alegret-Bartel is originally from Cuba and moved to the United States in 1966.  She believes that life is steadily improving for Hispanics in the Tri-State area. The region’s population is becoming more diverse and the Hispanic population has been playing a significant role in the growth of minority populations in the area, she said.

When I met with Sila Alegret-Bartel a few months ago, she briefed us on the event.  It is always held around the time of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated every year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.  She explained that the proceeds from the festival have funded over 40 scholarships for Hispanic students continuing education after high school.  Supporting students and their families aligns with Goodwill’s vision of working together so all community members can realize and achieve their fullest potential.

Celebrate!
Honored to be a part of a great day!
Represent!
Hanging with Pres and VP of Hispanic Association of Hagerstown.

Booths at the festival offered people guidance and help with a variety of issues, including medical testing and educational opportunities.  And, Horizon Goodwill is proud to have been among them.

If you have suggestions on how we can learn more and do more for the Hispanic communities and families, please email me at cfleming@goodwill-hgi.org.

As always, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and check out more of our website.

Goodwill Gets Grant Helping Adults Go Back to School

thumbs up!
Get Onboard! graduates before talking with Community Foundation grant team about a grant like this helps them achieve their personal and professional.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Horizon Goodwill has received a $1,120.00 grant from The Community Foundation of Washington County.  This is so exciting – and what great timing: Back to School!  As you know, we launched our Get Onboard! job readiness program in February of 2017, and since then have enrolled nearly 250 job seekers across Western Maryland and graduated over 75 Washington County residents with some participants finding employment during or right after completion.  During this time, both Allegany College of Maryland and Hagerstown Community College (HCC) have provided instruction during Get Onboard! to help participants identify when continuing education or GED classes could be beneficial.

The grant from Community Foundation will allow us to provide GED tutoring and classes for individuals with developmental disabilities and barriers to employment.  Our Goodwill Workforce Development Team will use the money to really kick start our expanding continuing education initiative, with our first cohort drawing from students currently enrolled in Get Onboard!  Goodwill will provide comprehensive tutoring for 10 Get Onboard! participants seeking to get their GED.  In partnership with the Western Maryland Consortium and the Beacon House, the cohort will prepare to take and pass their GED exams.  The grant amount was matched at 50% by the Community Foundation for operating expenses which will be dedicated to providing backpacks, folders, and study materials needed.

For many, it can be scary making the commitment to “go back to school”.   But now, job seekers can work on their resume and work to get their GED in the same place.  Education partners, like Beacon House and HCC, have instructors teaching at Goodwill’s Job Readiness Center on Prospect Street downtown.

artistic desk picture

By choosing to continue their education, Washington County residents increase their marketability for employment and can realize greater opportunities for advancement if already employed.  Goodwill shares Beacon House’s belief that “all adult learners wishing to enter the workforce can be successful with some foundational courses that will prepare them for continuing education in a formal setting and make them more competitive for the workforce.” 

Thank you to the Community Foundation of Washington County for helping us advance Goodwill’s mission of removing barriers and creating opportunities.  And, a very, very special thank you to the William Justice Family Fund, the benefactor, for ensuring Washington County residents with disabilities and barriers to competitive work have access to continuing education and job training.

 

 

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