For 40 years, Kevin read the classic novella, A Christmas Carol, but could never relate to the protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge – until 2018 and 2019. In those two years, he buried five people he cared about.
“I went from a $40,000 career to destitution in one day,” Kevin said. “I struggled to find work, and I was down to my last $150. I was worried about how I would take care of my little girls [his dogs] and myself.”
It was then Kevin understood Scrooge’s meaning: “There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty.”
In late 2019, he made the unbearable decision to put down one of his dogs, but it was in January of 2020 that Kevin’s life changed. He received a call from Goodwill about a recent job application and accepted a position as a full-time material handler.
“Goodwill rescued me and Ember. I now have stability, a financial rescue and most importantly, hope.”
Ten months after beginning work at Goodwill, Kevin has an annual expense account loaded for three years, thanks in part to free financial literacy courses offered to Goodwill employees through Apprisen.
Additionally, Kevin feels stable enough – both financially and emotionally – to continue striving for the goals he set for himself back in 2017. He is now in the process of finishing his degree in psychology and obtaining his real estate sales and appraisal licenses. Kevin plans to apply for Goodwill’s tuition reimbursement program to help offset the cost of his classes.
“This is all leading to my primary goal of a house and land. This is what Goodwill means to me, and for that, I am eternally indebted to Rick [former store manager], Heather and Jill [career coaches].”