Difficult Road Leads Man to New Start

A difficult road led 33-year-old Cody to Goodwill.

His journey began in Oregon, where he lost his job as a chef at Outback Steakhouse due to his struggles with substance abuse. Unemployed, he found himself couch surfing and, at one point, living in a tent with his wife and three young daughters. Eventually, Cody was arrested for a class four felony and spent time in an Oregon jail. Upon his release from jail, he moved to Las Vegas to be closer to his family.

In Vegas, he faced more hardship and became homeless. Struggling to survive, he came upon the Goodwill Career Center. Cody was a longtime customer at Goodwill (“I’ve always loved Goodwill; I love to thrift shop!”) and was thrilled to learn about its many resources.

While researching jobs at Goodwill’s Computer Center, Cody overheard a workshop in progress and inquired about which Goodwill workshops might benefit him. He promptly enrolled for workshops in self-advocacy, digital skills, resume prep, and financial literacy, and he worked hard to excel in all of them.

Newly empowered, Cody enlisted Goodwill’s help to perfect his resume and apply for a job as a maritime chef with Silver Bay Fish Company in Alaska. He was immediately invited for an interview, and with Goodwill’s help he prepared for the interview and obtained a voucher for professional clothing. He was offered the job on the spot and soon headed to a new life in Alaska.

“Life was really hard for me and at times I felt like giving up,” Cody said. “If it was not for Goodwill and the people that I worked with, who knows where I would be today.”

Goodwill empowered Cody to transform his life.

Learn how Goodwill’s Career Services can work for you.