employment services

by Christopher Six, Media Marketing Assistant

When Timothy Day was released from federal incarceration for good behavior 61 months into a 77-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, he knew a return to Atlanta would not be in his best interest. So after six months of home confinement, he set the process in motion to return to the place where it all started 30-plus years ago — Cumberland, Maryland.

“I didn’t want to go back to Atlanta because the reputation I had for the stuff that I did was never going to leave me alone. I wanted to come back to a place where I knew that I could function on the money resources that I had available to me without any strain on me. So, I came to Cumberland, Maryland,” he said.

Timothy had left Cumberland in the mid-1970s. His journey to come full circle was one of many miles and trials.

“I’m not going to lie to you; it had to do with drugs and drug use,” Timothy says when discussing the reputation he wanted to escape.

“It was a lifestyle. It wasn’t so much the drugs; it was all the bells and whistles that came with it,” he added. “I had been on drugs since I was a young boy. It started when I was six years old smoking weed, and when I hit 28, it just took a whole different turn.”

That was after several stops and starts, including attending a trade school for automotive before dropping out in the last semester. He had found himself in Atlanta, trying to support a young family.

“It started where I was self-employed, and cocaine and methamphetamines were helping me accomplish that work I needed to take care of my house and my family, but after two years of constantly working 16 hours a day, seven days a week, I had two nervous breakdowns,” he explains. “I’d go back and start building my life back again, and before long, I’d be right back on drugs because of the pressure and the stress.”

As time passed, he bounced between North Carolina and Georgia. Then came the federal charges. Upon his release, he knew he had to make a change.

“I needed some kind of foundation, so I got on the computer and pulled up the Maryland reentry guide, and they gave me information on Goodwill and a few other places, and I chose to contact Goodwill,” he added. “After I contacted Goodwill … every barricade I hit, or thing I had to maneuver around, Horizon Goodwill was there to help me and make sure that I was staying focused on what I was trying to accomplish and give me the resources to reach out to, like DORS (Division of Rehabilitation Services).”

Timothy began services with HGI in December of 2021, enrolling in both employment services and housing navigation programs. Working with Housing Navigator Andi Welch, in June of this year he secured income-based housing, left the Union Rescue Mission, and is now living in his own apartment in Cumberland.

“So, I landed right back in the same spot as I stood 35 years ago, but everything is due to a purpose. I just keep myself going knowing that this is something that I’m doing now that I’ve been trying to do for the past 20 years, but every time I tried to get my certification or go to school to become what I’m becoming, I got involved with drugs,” he said. “Anytime a situation came up with judgment involved, I’d resort back to you to drugs, but this time it’s different because I like the path that I’m on, and I’m enjoying every step that I’ve taken.”

Timothy also entered into the Temp Labor/Paid Training Program in June and began working at the Warehouse in Cumberland, where he quickly excelled in the position.

“They helped me establish my housing, they helped me establish work — I worked for Horizon in a temporary position. It felt good because it was the first time I worked in a long time, and I made sure I was a very dedicated worker,” he said. “So, it’s been very beneficial for me because it opened a lot of doors and stood beside me with my guidance and sometimes listened to me moan and groan about things, but they wanted to hear it. They were very interested in what I had to say. They’ve always been there for me, even still today. I can contact them if I’m dealing with something, and they’ll come to talk to me and help me get through it or maybe even come up with resources that are available in my community to help me maneuver through.”

Warehouse Manager Melissa Harris praised that dedication, highlighting that he picked up very quickly on all his assigned work duties and was able to work independently and at a very fast pace. She particularly noted his dependability and work ethic.

Timothy has also been successful in his recovery program with the Allegany County Health Department and has a passion for helping others. He enrolled in the Human Services Program at Allegany College of Maryland and left his paid training position at the warehouse in August to participate in the program full-time for the fall semester. He is also now an employee at the college.

Timothy says he has no real regrets about the journey that brought him here because it made him who he is today and gave him the knowledge and experience to help others, which is his goal after completing his studies.

“No matter where you started, you end up in the same place that I ended up in, and if I can help people from getting to there by what I can say about it…” he said. “I don’t want somebody to be 55 years old and go through all the stuff that I went through. If I get someone in their 20s and get them to understand that they don’t have to waste away parts of their life, thinking that it’s okay, and they got control of it… because sooner or later, you don’t have control over it because it takes control you. ”

Timothy wishes he could have taken this initiative 30 years ago but says he feels blessed to be alive to do the things he is doing now. A father of four with three grandchildren, he is even more thankful they get to see him setting out on this new part of his life’s journey and to have their support along the way.

“I haven’t been a man on a mission for a long time… you can’t stop a man on a mission. I’m definitely going to succeed because I’m not accepting failure, “ he said. “The journey that I’m supposed to be on… the destination has not been met. And I do believe that the journey that I’m on now is the journey that I’m supposed to have been on in the eyes of the Lord. So, therefore, here I go.”

by Christopher Six, Media Marketing Assistant

For Rhonda Eastman, the decision to come to Maryland was a calling — to be in a place where she could help people — and while that journey has had its trials, she knows she is better prepared to make a difference in people’s lives.

“I felt like the Lord wanted me to come here. I was watching some programs, and they were talking about Maryland, and a few weeks later, He told me that he was going to move me to Maryland,” Eastman explains. “I picked Hagerstown because it was a smaller town. I’m actually called to be a pastor. So I gave everything away and only brought a suitcase and two bags.”

Rhonda retired from her job of nine years at McDonald’s’ to prepare for the move. But moving from Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri, to her new home in Maryland was not without its challenges.

“I really felt like the Lord sent me here, but later on, I was running out of funds to stay in the motel,” she said.

So, she turned to something she knew – Mcdonald’s.

“If you don’t have funds, you have nowhere to go. I had to camp at work … I had to wait until we got paid, so off and on, I would be on the street,” she explains. “You almost have to go behind buildings just to stay warm.”

Despite her best efforts, Rhonda found she couldn’t save enough money to get steady housing and knew she needed help.

Rhonda had applied and interviewed with Goodwill at a Job Fair in March. She also met with Housing Navigation. Having already stayed at the Salvation Army and could not go back for six months. Options were discussed with Goodwill’s Director of Workforce/Human Services, Adam Sewell, who was able to put her in the Dagmar Hotel for a night.

Horizon Goodwill representatives explored several temporary housing options to no avail. Finally, they apprised The Salvation Army of the situation, and Rhonda was granted a week’s stay until Goodwill could get a room ready. Within a day, Horizon Goodwill had a room at the shelter available and ready for Rhonda.

At the same time, a friend was helping her navigate the housing authority.

“As soon as I got to the Dagmar Hotel, I heard from them that I was on top of the list, and three months later, I got my apartment,” she said.

As part of the Goodwill Shelter Program, Rhonda started working for Goodwill at the corporate location in the north-end warehouse before moving to the Burhans Boulevard location. Now she’s at the brand-new North Pointe store in Hagerstown.

“That was awesome!” she said of the ribbon-cutting event held for the new store on July 14.

And does she enjoy her work? “Oh yeah, I love it!” she enthusiastically answers.

While there were times she admits she wanted to give up, Rhonda sees her journey as training – preparing her for her opportunity to help others in the future.

“It’s just part of my sacrifice. I’ve always wanted to help people on the street. And He taught me through this experience to help people more. My dream was to have my own mission,” she explains. “So, I feel like coming here and going through this experience, it was also a learning experience to get me ready to help other people that need help.”

“I felt like this was part of my ministry to help people and to evangelize the best way I know how,” she continues. “I don’t know where I will be, but I think I will have my own mission and have that recreation room where we come in for fellowship, and the ones that don’t know the Lord will come to the Lord and just love him – because a lot of those people don’t have love.”

Rhonda wants others to see her story as a source of encouragement.

“Don’t give up. There were times that I wanted to give up, and the Lord told me, don’t give up; keep going no matter what. And that’s what I did,” she said. “I really encourage them to do the same thing. It’s hard, but they will make it no matter what.”

by Christopher Six, Media Marketing Assistant

Jennifer knows a thing or two about overcoming addiction. More than once, she has recognized it in herself and used that as motivation to make a change. Now 10 months sober, it’s Horizon Goodwill she credits with giving her the opportunity to get her life back on track.

“I’ve struggled with addiction on and off all my life. I’ve pretty much got myself finally free from that, I believe,” she said in a recent interview. “I rebuilt my life. At one point I didn’t have an apartment, job, or a car and I have gained all that back from myself.”

The Cumberland native didn’t have the easiest of childhoods, her mother suffered from schizophrenia. Despite the difficulties at home, however, she graduated from high school, marrying in her senior year.

“Somehow, I managed to do that. I don’t know how, but I did,” she explains. “I got married in high school. That was pretty much another downhill for 20 years.”

While others pursued their post-high school dreams, Jennifer’s goal was to take care of her family.

“I became pregnant a year and a half after the marriage. We just started the family, and I pretty much was home with the kids while he worked,” she said.

Drugs became a form of self-medication.

“In my 30s, there was cocaine and prescription drugs. I’ve been free from that for 13 years,” she explains, saying it was ending up in jail that was the final straw. “That was just jail — it was the county, but it was long enough.”

It was that same self-awareness that led her to seek treatment for alcohol addiction. That meant stops at the Massie Unit, an addictions treatment facility for adults, and the Allegany House, which helps individuals re-adjust to society without dependence on substances.

Through all her struggles with addiction, she has had the self-realization to change the path she was on.

“When it came to the alcohol last year, I just knew I was a wreck and I had to go get it under control. I put myself in the Massie Unit, then I went to the Allegheny House for further treatment,” she said.

It was that decision to seek treatment that ultimately introduced her to Horizon Goodwill.

“I met a couple of goodwill employees while I was there. They became my case managers and helped me through,” she said.

Jennifer worked a training period at the La Vale Goodwill location. The work helped her get back on her feet, including giving her the ability to move into her own place.

“It was a fantastic experience. I’m grateful for the opportunity, it got me back into the workforce,” she said, something she couldn’t find elsewhere. “Because honestly, through all of that, I had charges, so I couldn’t get nobody to hire me whatsoever because of that open case. Finding employment was really hard for me.”

Those charges were later dismissed and thrown out, she explained, but “that didn’t take away from a year I couldn’t get a job because of it.”

Her training at Goodwill gave her a foundation to build on. Now she is an inspector at Berry Global, a local plastics fabrication firm. Plus, she can spend time focusing on her four adult children.

“Boy, girl, boy, girl. I have two generations of kids. My first two are in the 30s and the second two are 21 and 18 now,” she said.

And now, there is a grandson, too.

“Right now, what I am looking forward to, is taking my children to the beach this summer. That’s my biggest goal other than getting my transportation back. Just continuing to get back the things I lost,” she said.

All are goals that may not have been possible If she hadn’t the strength to recognize the pattern of addiction and sought the treatment that introduced her to her case managers at Horizon Goodwill.

“I’m just thankful and grateful for Horizon Goodwill for giving me the opportunity to start proving myself again,” she said.

by Christopher Six, Media Marketing Assistant

After breaking away from an abusive relationship, Mary, a single mother of two, had a home, a car, and a well-paying job that helped her put a little money aside for her family.

Then came COVID-19. Suddenly, it was impossible to be both Mom and keep her full-time job — she had to be home with her children.  

“The bottom dropped out. I had a great job and had to give that up. Unfortunately, I was denied unemployment. With schools closing, childcare was closed as well. So, finding someone to watch the kids up and go to work was a huge issue,” she explains. “Going in and telling them I can only work the hours my kids are in school, to be able to find something like that was a needle in the haystack, to say least. Everybody wants nights and weekends.” 

To add to her difficulties, her car broke down, and because she rented privately, she was not protected when her landlord asked her to move out so that a family member could move in. 

“I took what money I had saved up and stayed in a motel for $500 a week for three months,” she said. 

When the money ran out, and she was forced to go into a shelter for two months, and when that didn’t work out, the family slept in the car for a month. 

Finally, she was able to get placed into a home and get the kids in school. That was when the school social worker suggested she contact the Martinsburg Initiative, which brought her to the attention of Horizon Goodwill.  

“Full disclosure – when I got told about it and I went for my interview, I thought they were going to have you work in the store. I had been told that some of the circumstances for going through the program were people that don’t have job experience or have gotten into some trouble and now they’re getting back on their feet,” she said. “I was like, I’m none of those things. But I’ve been disadvantaged in a whole other level, so I’m not gonna take it offensively and just go ahead with the program and see what benefits it could help me with.” 

In fact, her experience was far from what she expected. Her caseworker asked her about her experience and situation to better match her up with opportunities that fit her needs. She chose Blue Ridge Community and Technical College because of the flexibility it gave her regarding her kids. Within six weeks Blue Ridge took her on full time. 

“Christmas break I get all eleven days off like my kids, so it works out great,” she said. “When I came in through Horizon Goodwill, they were willing to work with my hours and my times — that really helped. Now that I am on full time, I was able to get the kids into childcare, and getting my full-time hours. I got benefits from day one.” 

Getting a full-time job and being able to pay for daycare was just what she needed to get her back on her feet. Most important, her caseworker was able to provide her with the ride to and from work during her first week when her car wasn’t running, otherwise, she would have never been able to start. 

“The bosses are great and everybody’s really nice — and it’s not hard labor. I’m not stressed out. Everybody’s friendly,” she adds. “This year has been very hard. But I was able to buy the kids presents and I’ve got gas in my car. I’ve been able to pay for the things broken in my car and pay off different bills. The good thing about when you hit the bottom is you can only go up.” 

After six months at Blue Ridge, she will be eligible for free tuition. She has plans to take advantage of that benefit to advance her education and her career. 

Mary thinks it is important to share what she called “a real success story.” 

“If you don’t share your story, then other people won’t be able to help themselves in their situations,” she explains. “When you hear about somebody else, then it gives you a little bit of hope that if things can turn around for them, then maybe things can work out for me.”  

 

by Christopher Six, Media Marketing Assistant

James was always a hard worker, that work ethic was drilled into him in his youth. But issues with homelessness and drugs often held him back. Horizon Goodwill has brought much-needed stability to his life and is helping him plot a path to retirement.

“My father died when I was 10. But before he died, even as a teenager, I learned a lot from him,” the Baltimore native explains. “He was a working man. I remember that life was about to get better for all of us. But then he died.”

James then went to live with relatives. “They were aunts, good women. I learned a lot from them, too, especially as far as work ethic. I grew up in a good household, but like a lot of young guns, I strayed away.”

James left school in 11th grade, and after a stint in the National Guard, joined the workforce. While he enjoyed the work and it kept him busy, trouble was also brewing.

“My aunt had introduced me to a man. He was young, he had three children and a wife, and I was around 23. We were just starting out,” James says of the opportunity. “Most of my work came from him because I was a part of him growing his family business. It just took off. He carried me along for the ride, and I was constantly working, but then I started using drugs, and that’s all she wrote.”

Yet, despite the drug use, he didn’t abandon James.

“I started messing up, but he kept me working. I became homeless and I started going to drug rehabilitation, but all along he stayed there with me, even though I had a drug problem,” James said. “He tried to get me to start my own business, but I wasn’t there, you know? I spent a lot of years being homeless. I had multiple skills and did physical work. I used to love doing it. But all along, I still had a drug problem, too. I just didn’t get right.”

Still, he didn’t give up on James, and through his connections at the Wells House in Hagerstown, James twice found himself on the path to recovery.

He found staying on that path to be difficult, but then something changed.

“Two times, I came out and went back home, did alright, then messed up and was back on the street. I guess the last time, that time was the time because I’ve been okay for 12 years,” James explained.

That was when another friend, a woman who used to work for Goodwill, suggested he might find a good fit.

“I was hired at the warehouse. From there I started working for the janitorial crew. I’ve been with Goodwill ever since,” he said. “I love what I’m doing. It gets hectic sometimes, but I’m in a good spot. I have stability now, which I didn’t have before.”

“I guess they liked my initiative and how I worked. Whatever they asked me to do, I would do it,” he continued. “So, a supervisor position came up, and they made me supervisor, and I’ve been a supervisor ever since.”

James sees his life as a long journey, and he has learned something every step of the way. That helps him appreciate the opportunity Horizon Goodwill has provided. He enjoys the work and now, with a 401k, he sees a time when he can stop, enjoy his retirement and catch up with old friends.

“I’m 62. I’ve been working basically all my life, and I’m looking forward to four years when I can stop working because I’m feeling my age,” he said. “I like working, don’t get me wrong, but comes a time when you just want to sit back for the rest of your life that you have on this earth. Just enjoy life.”