VERSAILLES, Ky. — t’s a nonprofit organization that helps Kentuckians with disabilities or other disadvantages, achieve, and maintain employment while they strive to gain a better quality of life.
Lauern Deitering is the marketing manager for Goodwill and says while people know their stores they may not realize just how much good they do when they shop.
"Most people are aware of Goodwill because of our stores," she said. "And they don't realize that when you shop and donate at Goodwill, the revenue that we earn in our retail stores helps fund employment programs for Kentuckians who have disabilities or other challenges finding employment."
Here at the Goodwill Store in Versailles, Store Manager Crystal Tincher and her staff are celebrating their first anniversary. Crystal has climbed the ladder of success and has first-hand knowledge of how Goodwill can change your life.
"Six and a half years ago, I started with Goodwill as a volunteer through the K-TAP program. And I didn't know much about Goodwill when I'd first started and they extremely helped me," she said. "I was a single mom with two kids, so they put me through their 'Cars to Work' program, and I was able to get a car through them to be able to transport my kids to places that I wouldn't be able to take them."
Annually, Goodwill touches the lives of more than 20,000 Kentuckians and assists them to obtain more than 3,000 jobs. The jobs created at Goodwill Stores teach employees how to accept, sort and process donations, operate a cash register, practice time management and goal-setting skills, maintain general cleanliness and even in some cases, develop management skills.
Tincher says the programs really work and helped her a great deal.
"I did their soft skills program, their financial training, and they have helped me in just tremendous ways and helped shape my life into what it is now. So, I went from six years ago to being a volunteer to today, running my own store here in Versailles."
Deitering says stories like Crystal's are special and happen throughout the state.
"I think Crystal's story is a great one. It's a great example of what Goodwill does with our employees, but it's not a rare one. I know so many employees personally throughout the state who have worked their way up from a volunteer, all the way maybe to a regional manager even."
For those at Goodwill, it’s about giving people a hand up — not a handout — allowing every person the opportunity to experience the dignity and independence that comes with earning a paycheck and achieving self-Tincher said, "I could not thank them enough for what they have done for me."