In November 2023, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana opened its newest retail location In Westfield, Indiana. Newly promoted site lead Jamie Nail was present to cut the ribbon at the grand opening, marking a new chapter in her life.

In the early 1990s, Jamie, who was pregnant at the time, was involved in a severe car accident that damaged her spine and nervous system. She underwent two corrective spinal surgeries to help repair the damage. During her recovery, Jamiel was prescribed pain medication, which eventually led to a dependency. After her second surgery, her doctor advised her to recover without a prescription, which she found particularly challenging.

“I got physically sick, but also mentally felt like I had fallen into a black hole,” Jamie said.

Seeking alternatives to pain medication, she turned to opioids and, eventually, heroin. During this time, Jamiel lost her job and home, leading to life on the streets. This became a turning point for her.

“I was homeless for about a year and a half when I finally decided I was tired of being cold, hungry, and just existing to find my next fix,” Jamie said.

Eventually, Jamie would become involved with the criminal justice system. While completing community service, Jamie learned about a job opportunity at a local Goodwill retail store. When it was time to find work, she applied and joined Goodwill in 2019 as a cashier.

“It seemed like a good opportunity, as not many places want to give a felon a second chance,” Jamie said.

Jamie quickly found success at Goodwill. Within a few months, she was promoted to team lead. In this role, she thrived by helping others find purpose in their jobs and engaging with regular shoppers. A year later, she was promoted to team lead 2.

When the opportunity to become a site lead arose in 2023, Jamie applied and was soon leading the newest Goodwill retail location in Westfield. In this role, she oversees the store's daily operations. However, three months after the store opened, Jamie’s daughter passed away from a fentanyl overdose just four days before her 29th birthday. Jamie’s team at Goodwill was there with support and sympathy to help her through her grief. 

“My world just shattered,” Jamie said. “My Goodwill family has been incredibly supportive and understanding.”

Jamie credits her work at Goodwill with motivating her to face each day and be there for the people who count on her. She hopes to remain in her role for many years and help others succeed. She highly recommends Goodwill to those seeking a job that offers employment and opportunities. 

“There are so many opportunities at Goodwill through our mission,” Jamiel said.

Are you interested in working at Goodwill? Our careers page has a complete list of employment opportunities: www.goodwillindy.org/careers/.