training and employment programs

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.”

 

by Christopher Six, Media Marketing Assistant

For someone with special needs, it is all too easy to get lost in the public school system, but with the assistance of some local organizations and Goodwill, 18-year-old Matthew Walters has found his future wide open in his new position at Horizon Goodwill’s Lavale, MD location.

Just a short time ago, that future seemed much bleaker.

“Anger, and all that, they got my older brother in trouble and got me in trouble,” Matthew explained. But it also ushered in some much-needed change in his life.

“That was my sixth-grade year,” he continued. “I went to a school called the Jefferson, and they helped me control it.”

The Jefferson School at Finan, where he earned his high school diploma, is operated by the Towson-based nonprofit Sheppard Pratt Health System. The Jefferson School at Finan is a school for emotionally troubled children. Sheppard Pratt operates 33 psychiatric programs for children, adolescents, and adults in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

From elementary to high school, Matthew said he attended 13 different schools. The average enrollment at The Jefferson School is approximately 33 students, according to the Cumberland Times-News. Thus, allowing students like Matthew to receive the attention they need. There he had access to a doctor, and a therapist to see when he needed one.

After choosing not to return to his old school, The Jefferson School,  helped him gain access to The Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services, or DORS is an agency of the Maryland State Department of Education offering programs and services to promote employment, economic self-sufficiency, and independence to people with disabilities. It includes both a public vocational rehabilitation program and Disability Determination Services. Through that program, he received his high school diploma.

Living at home, Matthew worked a series of odd jobs around his neighborhood and worked for a time with his father as a roofer. Ultimately, thanks to an uncle who worked at a Goodwill warehouse, Matthew reached out for an opportunity.

“I started out scanning books there. Then they had me go into sorting through stuff they sent out to the stores,” he explains. “Or they had me going through clothes, to make sure they are good to send out.”

Matthew knew he was learning valuable skills, but in his short time there he was learning specific skills that he could use at the Cumberland store. His first week of employment has seen him in processing but chipping in as needed.

“I’m processing, but if they have short staff out here to put things out, they have me do it,” he said, adding he enjoys the work.

The work has Matthew feeling stronger and capable of finding a good job and a life-long career. And he’s already got a car.

“I do, but I don’t get my license and all that. I got the car, but I can’t drive it yet.”

In February, he plans to get his learning permit.

He may only have one week on the job, but he’s made a big impression.

“He’s done a great job, we’re very proud of him,” said Horizon Goodwill Industries Job Coach Lori Joy, “Ever since day one, every time I went back to check on him. He’s good. I talked to him, he listens, he’s great.”