Shawanda Green, a cashier at Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee’s Jackson store location, received the keys to her first car in nearly ten years in January thanks to the nonprofit’s Wheels-to-Work Program. 

Started in 2013, the program is designed to help eliminate the barrier of transportation by giving a donated vehicle to a team member who needs it. 

At a special celebration in front of the store, Goodwill Senior Leadership presented Green with the keys to a 2005 Toyota Camry. 

“I am so happy and grateful to have my own car,” Green said. “I really can’t believe it!”

The Wheels-to-Work ceremony was featured on WBBJ News. 

Green has been a Goodwill Team Member for nearly seven years and has had to use the public bus system to get to and from work every day since.

“My commute was about an hour to work and thirty minutes home,” Green said. “I also had to ask for rides from friends and family on holidays or days when the bus wasn’t running.”

Green is the 18th recipient of the Wheels-to-Work Program. 

Danny Rhodes, Goodwill’s Director of Donations Acquisitions, said the program allows the nonprofit to help transform a team member’s life, while also extending the life of a donated item. 

“When people don’t have transportation, a lot of essential things in their lives get left unattended,” Rhodes said. “So this creates further potential life-changing opportunities.”

Green, a longtime resident of Jackson, said she will always be grateful to Goodwill for giving her meaningful employment. 

“Goodwill has really helped me grow as a person and come out of my shell,” Green said. “I used to be nervous to interact with people, but now that I’ve worked here I absolutely love it. I love our customers, my coworkers and my supervisors.”

Now that she has her own set of wheels, Green said she is most looking forward to getting to spend more quality time with her children and grandchildren. 

“It’s going to be amazing to be able to go somewhere without having to rely on others, and now I can go pick up my grandchildren and spend the day with them!” Green said. “Thank you, Goodwill.”