Category: Success Stories

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 »

  Priscilla was a freshman in high school when she moved to Clark County in 2014.  Entering high school was a very stressful time for Priscilla; her anxiety began to flare up.  Priscilla states “When I was a freshman in high school, I started having really bad anxiety.  The normal stress of high school was... Read more »

Meet Rufus, he found himself unemployed amid the pandemic shut down. Tired of constantly getting no calls back or turned down for jobs, he decided that he needed additional support to gain employment and provide stability for his family. In his first conversation with Miami Valley Works, A service of Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley, (MVW)... Read more »

Joe was a professional chef working at Wright State Nutter Center. He was working all kinds of events like concerts, and fundraisers, but the job was taxing. “I would work 14 hours a day depending on how big the event.  I was responsible for cooking and cleaning.  My shift would begin at 8 a.m. and... Read more »

Ellen’s life was on the upswing. She had recently been offered employment through Manpower, but then her incarceration at the Allen County Jail put an end to her plans. While she was still in pre-release status, Ellen met Staci Miles, an employment specialist with Goodwill Easterseals’ Community Outreach Program in Lima. Staci is part of... Read more »

Mikahla is originally from Urbana but moved to Van Wert with her dad shortly after her mom passed away from cancer.  Mikahla’s dad is from Van Wert and wanted to be closer to family as he was also diagnosed with cancer.  Shortly after his diagnosis, he passed away, so Mikahla lived with her brother and... Read more »

Meet Stephanie and how the power of work has empowered her independence. “I just didn’t feel like I was contributing to life,” is how Stephanie used to describe her life. Stephanie struggled with anxiety and depression after the unexpected loss of her mother and she could easily become overwhelmed and withdraw from life. In need... Read more »

  When Dale was recently released from prison after serving 12 years, life was completely overwhelming. “I just got out of prison and was living in independent housing for ex-offenders. I had 90 days to get a job and had no access to information. I couldn’t even find a phone book. I wore blisters on... Read more »

David’s struggle with addiction led him down a path of destruction, illegal behavior and in 2005 it landed him a 12-year stint in prison.  During his incarceration, David held many roles, but his time serving as a Reentry Clerk Facilitator, development and facilitation of coursework focused on reentry and reducing recidivism, helped David to realize... Read more »