Itzel Quintero is a mother of five children with a strong sense of will and determination. Initially living in California, Itzel and her family settled down in Indiana to start over and relieve some of their financial burdens. However, new financial barriers emerged after the cross country move. Itzel struggled to find solid employment that would allow her to provide for her children.
Meet Candice England
Candice England calls herself an Indiana transplant. Originally from Georgia, she relocated to Indiana after she remarried.
Cayley Golay is an unstoppable force whose main source of fulfillment is her desire to help people. Cayley joined the Goodwill family when she was a junior in high school, working in retail stores throughout her high school career until she found a job in manufacturing after graduation. When Cayley realized she wanted to go back to school to pursue a nursing career, she chose to return to Goodwill where she knew she would be supported through the process.
Goodwill has a long history of helping those with disabilities increase their independence and reach their potential, especially through employment. About 10 percent of people in the U.S. have what’s called invisible disabilities. That means a physical, mental or neurological condition that limits a person’s movements, senses or activities and is invisible to the average onlooker.
Established in 2017, National Hire a Veteran Day (celebrated on July 25) was founded by Hire Our Heroes, a nonprofit organization that connects veterans with employers. Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana recognizes the value that veterans bring to the table in terms of leadership, discipline, endurance, grit and so much more. We employ more than 100 veterans in a variety of roles, including retail associates, teachers, support professionals and more.
It is never too late to pursue a dream. Many seniors are proving this statement to be true by participating in Goodwill’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). SCSEP is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. Goodwill and many other organizations participate in the program to help seniors gain valuable work experience. SCSEP provides opportunities for seniors to take part in paid job training at a variety of host agencies. The job training helps reintroduce Hoosiers age 55 and up into the workforce while opening doors for potential careers.
Meet Caroline Costa
Dreams and goals are great, but when you can’t afford the steps to get there, they can seem unattainable. Caroline Costa was feeling that way about her own future when she moved back in with her mom in 2016. Pregnant, unemployed and financially unstable, Caroline had left an unhealthy relationship and made the difficult decision to place her son up for adoption.
“I felt I wasn’t in a good position to financially give my son everything he needed.” Caroline said, while speaking about that difficult decision.
Angel Beyersdorfer struggled with drug addiction for a decade before she finally hit rock bottom. She lost her home, car and driver’s license and couldn’t hold down a job.