Category: Success Stories

Growing up with a single mother suffering from alcoholism, Jess had a rough beginning. Having to grow up at a young age taking care of not only herself but her mother, proved to be a detriment to her. “I always said I was never going to be like her, but I ended up being an... Read more »

There are those we meet in life with the power to make us smile or laugh without ever needing to try. John and Lavon are two examples of such people. John and Lavon work together as a team at the Goodwill Outlet Warehouse on Woodman Drive in Dayton. For over a year, the two of... Read more »

  Meet Mitchell         Mitchell wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a policeman, but instead, Mitchell found himself working in the auto mechanic industry, a job, he said led him to a mental breakdown and depression. That’s when he turned to Miami Valley Works, a service of Goodwill Easterseals... Read more »

Learn how Kip lost her eyesight but was able to overcome her barriers by getting assistance from Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley.  Below is the story told in her own words. Well, it started off with me just thinking I wasn’t getting enough rest, but when I went to get my eyes checked by my ophthalmologist,... Read more »

When Scott came to Miracle Clubhouse, he was severely depressed.”I struggled with my mental health. My life had no direction or goals.”  He had trouble holding down a job, often going on and off his medication, causing great fluctuation in his ability to focus and maintain relationships. He had several brushes with the law and... Read more »

Benewende Zombre was determined to make a good living to support herself and her three children. She turned to Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley (GESMV) for help. She started by entering GESMV’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classroom with a wholeheartedness to apply herself and a dedication to increase her knowledge of conversational and... Read more »

For four years, Ricky has been a member of the Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley’s Miracle Clubhouse.  The Clubhouse is a vital community for growth, hope, and opportunity for people recovering from mental illness in the Dayton area. The Clubhouse is committed to ongoing improvement, positive development of strengths, and elimination of the stigma against those... Read more »

Rodney has struggled with vision impairment for most of his life. In high school, his vision began to fade. Once his vision began to fade, he found it difficult to be able to do the necessary assignments needed for school. He started to sit closer and closer to the chalkboard so that he could see... Read more »

When Matt was born the doctors told his family that he would never walk, would never be able to talk and would not be able to function cognitively; but that did not stop his family from deciding that they would give him every chance to grow up and be whatever he wanted to be. Matt... Read more »

  Meet Rick; he is a man who has never let his disability stop him and he doesn’t mind telling anyone he meets.  Rick is employed at the Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley Lebanon Goodwill Store.  He assists with donations and processing items for the sales floor.  Rick was introduced to the Goodwill Store through the... Read more »