Finding Community at Goodwill

    [fa icon="calendar'] Jan 12, 2024 11:24:00 AM / by Sam Stockman posted in Employment, Success Story, Goodwill Commercial Services, Criminal History, mental health, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness

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    Bradley Sims believes that working for Goodwill is much more than a job — he considers it a family. 

    “The sober community here is unbelievable. I don’t think I would have made it without them. They had faith in me when no one else did,” Bradley said.

    From a young age, Bradley faced a great deal of adversity while growing up with his grandparents in Brown County, Indiana. Both parents struggled with addiction, and his father also struggled daily to maintain his mental health. Watching his father struggle had a direct impact on Bradley’s own mental health. 

    “My father was suicidal, and it directly impacted me. I was never happy,” Bradley said. 

    Around age 15, Bradley was introduced to drugs. Shortly after, he discovered that his younger brother had taken his own life, sending him deeper into his battle with addiction. After finishing high school, Bradley and his girlfriend were incarcerated for crimes related to their addiction. 

    “Watching my girlfriend be taken away by the police was a turning point in me deciding to get sober,” Bradley said. 

    In addition, his mother passed away while he was incarcerated, leaving him a personal letter which would later help him enter rehab. He enrolled at The Amethyst House, a Bloomington based addiction treatment center. Here he was offered an employment opportunity through Goodwill. 

    In March 2021, Bradley started his new job at Goodwill’s Commercial Services in Bloomington. With the support of his peers and leadership, Bradley was promoted to the Line Lead position.

    “Every aspect of my life has changed since joining Goodwill. I wake up happy, and I want to go to work,” Bradley said. 

    After joining Goodwill Commercial Services, Bradley obtained his driver’s license, purchased a vehicle and secured housing for his family. He continues to advance himself by mentoring coworkers and attending internal training to broaden his skill sets. He strives to overcome the adversity he faces each day. 

    “For me, the feeling of loving yourself and knowing that you mean something — that feeling of accomplishment is ten times better than drugs,” Bradley said.

    Are you or someone you know looking for a career? Visit goodwillindy.org/careers to apply. 

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    From Recovery to Advocacy: "I Am Living Proof"

    [fa icon="calendar'] Jan 5, 2024 10:41:20 AM / by Sam Stockman posted in Employment, Success Story, Criminal History, ClickGoodwill, Retail, mental health, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness

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    Building Our Communities One Donation at a Time

    [fa icon="calendar'] Jul 18, 2023 1:30:00 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Nurse-Family Partnership, Disability, The Excel Center, Goodwill Commercial Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, Education, Foundation, Criminal History, Retail, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness, Strategic Plan, Goodwill Education, LGBTQ

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    Thanks to your support, lives are being changed in your community. In addition to significant growth in our Retail, eCommerce and Commercial Services divisions over the past year, we currently employ nearly 5,000 Hoosiers – 61% of whom have barriers to employment, like a disability, criminal history or lack of a high school diploma. 

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    Making a Fresh Start

    [fa icon="calendar'] Jun 14, 2023 1:09:41 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Success Story, Criminal History, Retail, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness, Pride Month, LGBTQ, DEI

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    Kris Bussey was only 10 years old when she was first introduced to painkillers on the school bus. 

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    The Pride of Achievement

    [fa icon="calendar'] Jun 6, 2023 9:31:13 AM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Disability, Success Story, The Excel Center, Education, Criminal History, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness, Mission Coaches, Goodwill Education, Pride Month, LGBTQ, DEI

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    Dakota McLaughlin experienced significant challenges growing up. His mother passed away when he was young, and he was also bullied at school, especially when he came out as gay, which often left him feeling alone. After experiencing domestic violence from a family member, Dakota felt safer leaving home, even though he had nowhere else to go. 

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    Mom of Twins Perseveres and Pays It Forward

    [fa icon="calendar'] May 14, 2023 9:30:00 AM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Nurse-Family Partnership, Success Story, Criminal History, Parents, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness, Multi-gen impact

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    When Lacee McCorkle connected to Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) in 2019, she was at a turning point in her life. She had recently graduated from a recovery home after 15 years of drug use and a period of incarceration.

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    Announcing Goodwill's 2023 Award Honorees...

    [fa icon="calendar'] May 6, 2023 10:00:00 AM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Nurse-Family Partnership, Disability, TalentSource, Success Story, The Excel Center, Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, Education, Goodwill Outlet, Criminal History, Parents, Retail, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness, Mission Coaches, LGBTQ

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    Each year, Goodwill celebrates some of the most extraordinary Hoosiers we serve through a ceremony that honors recipients across seven award categories. Eligible nominees include employees, students, program participants and community partners. When you donate and shop at Goodwill, you're empowering people in your community, like those whose stories you can watch below, so thank you for your support. Together we're changing lives!

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    Achieving Success through Perseverance

    [fa icon="calendar'] Jan 24, 2023 12:40:55 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Success Story, Goodwill Commercial Services, Education, Criminal History, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness

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    When Teresa Smith joined Goodwill Commercial Services in 2009, she was re-entering society and the workforce after a period of incarceration and a decade-long addiction to methamphetamine, which led to her losing custody of her son. Her history with the criminal justice system made it difficult to secure a job, but she approached the opportunity at Goodwill with a focus on improving her professional skills and rebuilding her life. 

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    A Second Chance at Success

    [fa icon="calendar'] Jul 25, 2022 1:34:19 PM / by Rachel Moehle posted in Employment, Success Story, Criminal History, Retail, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness

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    When Stephanie Carney was sentenced to 18 months in prison, she knew that she needed to make a change in her life.

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    Finding Meaning Through Employment

    [fa icon="calendar'] Jun 24, 2022 4:18:35 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Success Story, Criminal History, Retail, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness, Mission Coaches

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    After separating from her husband of 10 years, Samantha Russell turned to drugs in an effort to cope with the stress and anxiety she was experiencing. 

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