04 May Grace’s Story

When Grace came to Goodwill Career Solutions in 2011, she’d been unemployed for more than a decade.

“It had been a struggle to try and live life and care for my children without a job,” she said. “I had a lot of depression.”

She said it particularly troubled her that her mother had to help take care of her children.

One day, on a whim as she was riding the bus around Nashville looking for work, she stopped in at Goodwill Career Solutions. She signed up for job readiness classes and met one-on-one with a counselor. A week later she was offered a job as a production associate in one of Goodwill’s downtown Nashville warehouses.

“From that day, I began to take back control of my life and also gained self-respect and dignity,” she recalled.

Even though Grace had suffered a stroke that limited use of her left side before coming to Goodwill, she did not let her disability slow her down. She routinely produced more than most other employees in her department. She now audits the sorting of garments.

“This job has put a whole different light on my life,” Grace said, adding “I’m able to pay my bills, help do things for my grandchildren and just live a comfortable and decent life.

“I love you, Goodwill.”