Seeing Cherrie bounce her five-month old grandson in her lap will bring a smile to anyone’s face. A mother of nine and grandmother of five, Cherrie never thought she would have a second chance to experience the joys of motherhood, let alone have a key to her own door.

“If anyone wants to get their life together and get on the right track, I’m a willing testimony that MERS/Goodwill helps you until the end,” says Cherrie.

Cherrie grew up in Wellston, one of the 10 poorest counties in Missouri with a crime rate that is much higher than both the Missouri and national average crime rates. For 27 years, Cherrie was homeless. She was a victim of sexual and physical assault and gun violence, living in and out of vacant homes and spending her time getting high. She tried breaking the cycle of crime, violence and drug use by seeking spiritual counseling and entering treatment for substance abuse and mental health services numerous times, but found that she just couldn’t get away and would somehow always return to her usual habits.

Three years ago, Cherrie was ready to start a new chapter in her life. With six warrants out for her arrest for failure to appear in court, Cherrie knew she couldn’t run away from her problems anymore and chose to face her dilemmas head-on. It was in her jail cell when Cherrie made the decision to get clean for good, and while she had the willpower to stick with her goal, Cherrie faced an extremely difficult and unfamiliar journey of finding both a roof over her head and a job. So, when Cherrie was given a key to a furnished apartment by her church, it was something she had always dreamed. The kindness and support she received to keep her on the right track motivated Cherrie even more.

Next, Cherrie was referred to MERS/Goodwill by her Counselor through Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation, and she admits turning down her first opportunity with a job training and placement program. However, when Cherrie met Qiana Moody, a vocational case manager for MERS/Goodwill, she finally found the courage to move forward with her life.

“I wanted a job, I wanted to stay clean and I wanted to be productive in society,” recalls Cherrie. “When I started the vocational training program at MERS/Goodwill, I had not worked in over 20 years. I was scared to write a resume and didn’t know how to use a computer.”

Qiana provided vocational counseling to Cherrie through Goodwill and helped her determine her strengths and weaknesses in areas such as work aptitudes and abilities, work attitudes and behaviors, communications skills, and competitive employment. Through her counseling with Qiana, Cherrie learned how to compile a resume and use the computer to search for jobs online. Qiana also showed Cherrie how to access her email and taught her how to send applications online – basic skills that she will always have and be able to refer back to in the future.

Qiana not only became Cherrie’s mentor in job training, but in the personal struggles that Cherrie faced from her past. As a case manager, Qiana helped Cherrie file for divorce and hire a lawyer to settle every warrant on Cherrie’s record, so she could focus on her skills training and job applications. Qiana helped Cherrie identify her passion of cooking as a skill to focus on in her job search and aided in filling out applications in the food service industry.

Just two months into her program, Cherrie landed an interview with a charter school, for a position as a food server. Her first interview landed Cherrie the job and she was hired on August 24, 2012. With the support of Vocational Rehabilitation, Qiana supplied Cherrie with the proper uniform and shoes for the job and helped her get a ServSafe Food Handler license.

Today, Cherrie is a food server where she helps cook for 300 children. Even though it’s a part-time position during the school year, Cherrie already has some summer job opportunities lined up and has a position secured for the next school year.

When asked what she enjoys most about her job, Cherrie credits her close-knit coworkers and boss: “We have a beautiful time,” beams Cherrie. “I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. You just have to have that go power and drive and this is what I want to do.”

Cherrie has become a leader at work, taking the initiative to go above and beyond what is expected of her duties. Cherrie works the 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift, but always arrives at 7 to get a head start to her day. Her dedication has not gone unnoticed either, as she was recently given more responsibility and duties to train a new employee at the request of her boss.

Seeing how far she has come in life is emotional for Cherrie. She thought that, like motherhood, working at a school and being around children was a closed chapter in her life.

“It’s never too late to start over,” smiles Cherrie, who recently got engaged. “I haven’t had a wrong turn since meeting Qiana and going through the MERS/Goodwill program.”

Check out this great story about spring cleaning

For as long as she can remember, Sara Brown always knew something with her was different and from the very beginning, she faced challenges. Like many teenagers, high school was a difficult time; Sara struggled to fit in as classmates and peers made fun of her being different. Because she was diagnosed with having an Intellectual Disability, Sara needed tailored support for her barriers to learn in a typical classroom. She took special school services and worked closely with counselors to stay on track with schoolwork. When Sara was finally old enough to drive, her academic difficulties and adaptive behavior prevented her from even getting a learner’s permit – something she’s still working to obtain.

Despite facing significant challenges in high school, Sara found time for work. She volunteered with both T.J. Maxx and Manor Grove, a long-term nursing care residence, and found a job during high school working at Cinnabon in West County Mall in St. Louis – a job she held for over a year. She remembers her first day on the job: trouble working the cashier, nervousness around customers, and a manager that would step in and urge Sara to move faster.

“I can understand now why it was so difficult for me to work, but back then, I didn’t,” recalls Sara. “I couldn’t move faster because of my disability, and people would assume if I actually tried to be better I would. I felt so stuck.”

When Sara graduated from Kirkwood High School in 2010, a special education counselor recommended she enroll in MERS/Goodwill’s Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP). She was nervous to start a new program, fearing she would face the same obstacles from her previous jobs. Nonetheless, once Sara found Goodwill, she would not only participate in SWEP, but in many other development and coaching programs through 2011 that would help her overcome obstacles she faced with her disability in real-life situations.

In 2011, Sara was referred by her Counselor with Vocational Rehabilitation, Molly Rois-Delpha, to work with John Campbell, an Employment Specialist for MERS/Goodwill. Sara credits John for helping her learn the trials and errors of finding the right job for her needs. Along with John, Sara worked closely with Casey Cary through Goodwill’s Supported Employment Assessment Program to identify her goal of moving quicker in a workplace setting and what skills were needed to achieve that goal. To prepare Sara for job interviews, they quizzed her on what potential employers might ask during an interview. Sara remembers one question that stood out: the standard, “tell me about yourself,” in which she responded by naming off cornerstones of her childhood and what she enjoys doing in her free time. Despite her nerves, Sara would learn from John how to respond to interview questions by tying in her work experience as it relates to the job she wants. Additionally, Sara learned how to put together a resume and how to look for jobs online.

Sara went on to apply to numerous jobs, including Walmart, Michaels Arts & Crafts Stores, and several fast food establishments. She was called back for an interview as a cashier at a popular convenience store and was hired, but her excitement for landing her first job out of high school would soon change. As a cashier, Sara needed to learn how to conduct transactions through an online computer program, something that she struggled with in her past experiences. Despite being trained for the position, Sara wasn’t going as fast as she was expected to, and was let go after two days on the job. She was told her services weren’t needed anymore because they couldn’t continue to train her.

“That made me feel really bad; I just got the job and now I had to leave it,” recalls Sara. “Since I had a great relationship with MERS/Goodwill, and really trusted John, I decided to get more advice from him.”

John helped Sara realize that not every job will work out; sometimes, you just have to stick through it. Luckily, Sara applied to a local Dierbergs in May 2012 and was almost immediately hired. This time, her experience was different: Sara trained for two months at Dierbergs’ Lafayette location before officially starting at the new Des Peres location on July 31, 2012.

Today, Sara is a Courtesy Clerk for the Des Peres Dierbergs, where she works an average of 20-30 hours per week and holds numerous responsibilities, including exchanging money for cashiers, bagging groceries, organizing baskets and carts, and identifying and removing damaged goods from the storefront. Her job is anything but routine. She once had a customer complain to her about damaged eggs, which she quickly responded by offering to go and get a new carton of eggs even after the customer told her she didn’t need to. For Sara, it was that extra step outside her comfort zone that in the past she would have been too scared to take.

When asked what she enjoys most about her job, Sara talks about seeing the variety of customers that pass through – ones from different backgrounds, the regulars, and first-time customers that have never been to the new store. She also truly loves the people she works with, acknowledging that all of her coworkers are like family to her. In fact, she plans on having a big party with her friends and coworkers to celebrate her one-year anniversary this May.

Sara still struggles to overcome her disability when it comes to learning and is working with a life skills coach to help her finally get that learner’s permit. Whenever Sara looks back at all of the obstacles she faced, she can’t help but smile at her newfound confidence.

“I’ve grown up a lot from all of those challenges I had to deal with,” says Sara. “I just tell myself you have to calm down, go with the flow, do your job and love it!”

MERS/Goodwill has once again found a large sum of money, this time at the Sunset Hills location. The amount of $5000 was found by an employee who was filtering through the donations on Thursday. Goodwill would like the donor to come forward, as it is believed the money was donated unknowingly.

“Uh, oh, here we go again!” said Dr. Lewis Chartock, President and CEO of MERS/Goodwill. On the heels of resolving last year’s accidental donation of $14,000, the organization and its loss prevention team is currently reviewing video surveillance, and believes the donation was made on Wednesday, March 13 between 2pm and 5pm, which could involve 8-15 different donors. The Sunset Hills Goodwill store is located at 10125 Watson Road.

“The caliber of Goodwill’s retail staff is second-to-none and makes me very proud. Our team in Sunset Hills is yet again another shining example of the organization’s exemplary staff,” said Chartock. “We hope we find the donor, to either thank them, or to right a possible accidental drop off. If someone out there would like to come forward, that donor should call Goodwill at (314) 982-8802.”

An answer to the question: “What will happen to the money after 30 days?” The money will go to MERS/Goodwill’s wonderful programs that help the community including:

·         The MERS/Goodwill sheltered workshop that serves individuals with severe disabilities.

·         The MERS/Goodwill Vet Success Program which supports veterans both in their return to civilian employment and independent living.

·         The new MERS/Goodwill autism employment center that help members of the community with Autism Spectrum Disorder transition toward self-sufficiency.

On March 1, 2013, Mitch Russell celebrated his one-year anniversary working as a printing machine operator at PDG Printing in Cape Girardeau. For Mitch, it’s hard to imagine that just over a year ago he relocated from Illinois and was going on two years of unemployment. Despite having a strong background in the printing industry, Mitch, like many others, had struggled to find steady employment in the midst of the recession. Unlike many others, however, Mitch is hearing impaired and keeping his Social Security Disability Insurance benefits depended on him finding a steady job.

That’s when Mitch found MERS/Goodwill. Following a counselor’s visit at South East Missouri Alliance for Disability Independence, Inc. (SADI), he was encouraged to see Missouri’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and was recommended to work with a Case Manager with first-hand experience with local employers. Mitch was paired with Julie Casey, Director at MERS/Goodwill’s Cape Girardeau Career Center.

“Mitch arrived to our first appointment in a suit jacket and had a smile on his face which made him instantly likeable,” said Julie. “I saw potential in him from day one. Mitch was so passionate about his past work experience, but he struggled to find and keep steady employment.”

Julie worked with Mitch to find employment and ease the transition back into the workforce. Together, they determined Mitch’s goal was to seek employment at a printing company, but he had not worked in that field for more than ten years.

“While there are only a limited number of printing companies in the area, I knew Mitch’s experience would make him a competitive applicant and his excitement to begin the program indicated to me that he would be an excellent employee.”

Since he had a chronological format to his resume, many employers were missing the fact that Mitch had experience. Julie reworked his resume to highlight this experience so that it would stand out to employers. She then helped send out Mitch’s resume to local printing companies with a letter explaining his impairment along with information about MERS/Goodwill’s Employee Development and Placement program and its Employer Based Training.

Four days after the mailing, Julie received a call from Raymond, the owner of PDQ Quality Printing. He was impressed by Mitch’s resume and experience, and Raymond asked to meet with him the following day. Mitch was thrilled with how quickly he landed an interview. For years, Mitch’s disability had kept him either unemployed or employed in the fast food industry, and for the first time in over a decade, Mitch had an opportunity to work in his industry of choice.

“I couldn’t believe I had my first job interview within a week of working with MERS/Goodwill,” said Mitch. “I was nervous for my meeting because I wanted Raymond to know I was fully capable of becoming a productive employee despite my hearing impairment. Julie scheduled an interpreter to be there with me, which made me feel more confident.”

Julie’s perception of Mitch’s capabilities was on point: Raymond hired Mitch on the spot. Julie arranged to have an interpreter available while Mitch trained and until he was comfortable enough to work independently.

The biggest obstacle came after Mitch started working when his excitement quickly turned to self-doubt. After his first day on the job, Mitch emailed Julie and stated that he was thinking of quitting because he felt the job would be too stressful and aggravated a pain in his back since he was on his feet most of the day. Julie quickly arranged to meet him at PDQ with the interpreter and his boss, Raymond, to discuss his concerns. After speaking with Raymond at length, Julie found that Mitch had done a great job on his first day. They both felt he was probably more panicked about the idea that he was going to be the only press operator; in his past jobs, Mitch had worked in larger facilities that employed more operators. This would be Mitch’s first time working independently without other printing machine operators to share the work stress and responsibilities.

When Julie met with Mitch and his interpreter, he admitted that he was simply feeling overwhelmed at returning to a skilled job after so many years and having the responsibility of an entire department.

“I essentially gave Mitch a much-needed pep talk and reminded him that he was intelligent, and that Raymond and I both had faith that he was able to shoulder the responsibility,” said Julie. “It was clearly what he needed to hear. He was almost immediately relaxed and seemed more confident.”

As far as Mitch’s back pain, Raymond went out that same day and purchased rubber mats for the floors to provide some cushion. Raymond had also mounted a mirror on the wall in front of Mitch’s work space so that if an employee came up behind him, Mitch would be able to see them coming and not be startled due to his hearing impairment. Mitch now has a job he truly loves and gets to work in an environment where his coworkers are friendly and his manager goes above and beyond to accommodate his employees.

It was a case where MERS/Goodwill’s retention services and the thorough follow up after employment was clearly needed in order to help Mitch retain his job and be successful. He needed support and reassurance from someone who believed that he had what it took to do the job well.

Looking back on her experience with helping Mitch, Julie says working with Raymond as an employer was equally inspiring.

“Even after working in this field for over seven years, I still find employers who don’t understand that having a disability does not equate with being an unproductive employee,” said Julie. “Working with Raymond reminds me that for every door one employer might close, there will always be another around the corner who will be holding the door wide open.”

“MERS/Goodwill is always listening to and addressing the needs of the community and we saw a need for a new store in Ferguson,” said Dr. Lewis Chartock, President and CEO of MERS/Goodwill. “We want to provide our shoppers and the community with the great prices and great experiences they expect, and we can’t wait for this new store and donation center to open.”

The Ferguson retail store, located across the street from Wal-Mart & Sam’s Club, will kick off the weekend Thursday, Feb. 14 with the ribbon cutting and an afternoon appearance by KEZK (102.5 FM) radio personality, Vic Porcelli from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Porcelli will be there with register to win Valentine’s Day prizes including flowers from Walter Knoll, candy from Chocolate, Chocolate and a $50 five-star lounge Valentine’s Day escape. Also, through Saturday, Feb. 17, shoppers will have an opportunity to register each day for a chance to win a $500 to $1,000 Visa gift card.

The 15,320-square-foot retail store and donation center will be open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monies generated from sales go directly back to our community.

“With a continued need for our employment and vocational rehabilitation services, it is vital that we continue the enhancement and expansion of our retail stores and career centers,” said Chartock. “It is through the community’s donations, retail store sales, and area support that we can provide assistance to individuals in need right here in our community.”

“Managers actually have to ask him to slow down, he is such a fast walker that he is almost running,” said Leslie Quarles, Director of MERS/Goodwill’s South County Career Center.  “Mike had a couple of rough job experiences before working for Goodwill.  He worked at Venture for a number of years before they closed, and was heartbroken when it happened.  Mike also spent a number of years at a fast food restaurant, which wasn’t the right fit for him. “

Eager to explore different job opportunities, Mike sought assistance through Missouri’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.  He was eligible for their services, having been diagnosed with a developmental disability earlier in life.  A Counselor worked with Mike to create a plan to find a better job match, and referred him to MERS/Goodwill for job placement assistance.  After some career exploration and assessment with Leslie, Mark Morgan (Employment Specialist at MERS/Goodwill’s South County office) helped Mike to find the job at the South County Goodwill store in January of 2011. Mark expected that the position would be a good fit for Mike’s goal-oriented work ethic and fast work pace. 

“An ongoing challenge that Mike faced was staying focused during the work day,” said Linda Woodward, Job Retention Specialist for MERS/Goodwill who is now supporting Mike on the job with funding through St. Louis County’s Productive Living Board.  “He needed to learn how to balance his work duties: be nice and courteous to the customers while still meeting his work to-do list for the day.”

Mike takes a personal interest in how the store is performing; he still comes by the Career Center to share when the store is having a good week.  Mike loves numbers, whether it’s related to the store’s sales or his beloved Cardinals!  As far back as his assessment, Mike has been sharing with MERS/Goodwill staff the latest sports scores and statistics.  In no time at all, Mike was sorting and hanging 100 items of clothes per rack, and his best day so far has been his ability to fill seven racks – without stopping!  Mike sets the bar high for other employees but he is truly a team player.

“We have a specific way to hang pants so the customers can see the price tag and size,” said Mike. “One day, I noticed my coworker was putting pants on the hanger wrong so I helped show him how to hang them and now he gets it right!” 

Leslie Quarles shared that when she takes another client to the Goodwill store to try out one of the jobs there in an assessment, she always hopes it will be during Mike’s shift.  “If I’m lucky and it’s a day that he’s there, he’s a really great natural support,” remarked Quarles.

Mike is fluent in American Sign Language, and he is especially helpful with a customer who is deaf or has a hearing impairment. 

Last month, January 14, marked Mike’s second anniversary at MERS/Goodwill as a retail sales associate, and Mike has much to celebrate. He continues to set goals for himself designed to help him grow and step up within the organization.  He has been promoted twice and is now in charge of sorting donations for the Wares section in the store, a task that requires organization and problem solving skills for deciding where some of the more ambiguous household items go. Mike couldn’t be happier with the experience, and his work commute is definitely a perk.  Mike lives only five minutes away from work and knows the bus schedule and route by heart. On a nice day, Mike can walk to work and he’s hoping to get a driver’s license and a car. But for now, he’s just happy to make it home in time for the 5 o’clock news.

 “MERS/Goodwill taught me how to help customers without having to stop my work,” said Mike. “I can still talk and have a good time, but if I don’t know where something is I just ask my manager so they can help.”

 Prepared and Photographed by ~ Pilar Davis, Freelance Journalist & Volunteer of Goodwill

Aaron Agne is not like most teenagers. At just nineteen years old, Aaron proudly landed himself a full-time job – with benefits – at MERS/Goodwill. He is a role model to his friends, family and coworkers for his relentless drive to persevere and overcome any obstacle; Aaron’s diagnosis with Asperger Syndrome inspires everyone he meets.    

 “I knew Aaron had great potential from day one,” said Marisa Hiatt, Director for MERS/Goodwill. “His struggle with speed, however, was his biggest barrier in learning the skills required for a full-time position. He had the support from his family, and he just needed the right guidance.”

 Originally from Orange County, California, Aaron has lived all over the country, moving to Alabama in 2007 and then to St. Charles in 2010. After graduating from Francis Howell High School in 2011, Aaron knew he wanted a job, but had no idea what he wanted to do or where to start.

Aaron’s mom stepped in and started researching for a job shadowing opportunity, where she came across MERS/Goodwill’s Employment and Training programs. The opportunity was perfect for Aaron because he needed work experience and the support would help him become competitively employed. Aaron worked with a Counselor in Missouri’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and began participating in MERS/Goodwill’s Supported Employment Assessment program.

 “I chose MERS/Goodwill because it seemed like a friendly corporation and I like working in a friendly environment,” said Aaron.

With Marisa’s help, Aaron learned the basics of a job hunt, including how to look for the right job that matches his skills and interests, and how to prepare and practice for interviews. Aaron looked at several job opportunities before landing a seasonal position at Gordman’s. It was clear that retail was a good fit for Aaron, but he would find that keeping up speed in a back-of-house setting was a challenge.

 Aaron began training at MERS/Goodwill’s O’Fallon location in February 2012 as a processor, sorting and hanging clothes by gender and age groups, but struggled to fill the required amount of racks with clothes by the end of each shift. Marisa found that Aaron’s love of classical music helped motivate him to work faster, so he gets to listen to his iPod during his shift. Using Aaron’s hobbies and interests as a guide, Marisa established goals and incentives to help him overcome this obstacle: eight racks filled and he gets ice cream; nine racks filled and he gets a Barnes & Noble gift card; 10 racks filled and he gets to go to the symphony. Aaron has easily reached his goal of 10 racks, and can’t wait for new releases at the symphony. Aaron even gave himself the nickname, “Mr. Nine,” for continually meeting the goal of filling at least nine racks of clothes during a shift, many times surpassing his goal. His positive outlook at work is certainly contagious.

 “I shoot for the gold and score big time!” said Aaron. “I just want everyone to be successful at Goodwill and I know they will if they work hard like I did.”

In his free time, Aaron likes to read mysteries and anime at Barnes & Noble. He is a huge fan of Great Britain culture, movies and, especially, Earl Gray tea.  Aaron loves to draw and sees himself getting an art degree in the near future.

Aaron has been working at MERS/Goodwill’s Lake St. Louis store since it opened in May 2012, and he’s always focused on taking the next step in life. One of the highlights of Aaron’s job was receiving his first $500 bonus recently, and he has put that money toward a savings account. He’s looking to gain more skills, and his goal in the next year is to learn how to work a cash register, something that he struggled with when he first started working at MERS/Goodwill.

“Sometimes, you can’t see a person’s disability, which is why Aaron’s hard work is such an inspiration to others,” said Marisa. “Whenever I’m in a bad mood, I think of Aaron and how much he has grown. His positive attitude and motivation makes his surrounding community a greater place.”

http://fox2now.com/2012/12/31/mersgoodwill-expects-lots-of-donations-monday/

If anyone has the secret for maintaining a positive attitude, Warren Cobb’s got the formula. Warren faces the world with a developmental disability, but his smile never fades. His ability to take on each challenge with a positive outlook, his willingness to learn and grow, and the care he shows for those around him is truly inspiring. MERS/Goodwill helped him utilize these attributes to land a job that he truly loves.

“If you could bottle positivity, it would be called Warren Cobb,” said Leslie Quarles, Director for MERS/Goodwill’s South County Career Center. “He is very passionate about everything he is interested in.” 

During High School, Warren attended the Career Training Program at Garden Villas South, where he completed various food service tasks including setting tables, preparation services, and busing tables. He also completed a variety of work experiences at St. Louis Community College at Meramec, Fuddruckers, Bethesda, Delmar Gardens, and at a nursery. Never turning down a chance to learn, in 2008, Warren worked at the South County Goodwill with the MERS/Goodwill’s Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP), putting clothing away. He joined SWEP again in 2010, working in the Dietary Department at Green Park Nursing Home.

With such a variety of experience, Warren wanted a more permanent job working around people. After graduating from high school in 2011, Warren began working with MERS/Goodwill in the Supported Employment Program, where he had the opportunity to try a variety of jobs during the Supported Employment Assessment.

He then began Job Development in October and started working at a local sheltered workshop by the end of the year. One of the challenges Warren faced was reading. MERS/Goodwill provided the help he needed in understanding the materials given to him and enrolled him in a Job Readiness Training class once a week.

“MERS/Goodwill always kept me going to help me find a better job,” said Warren. “Even if I was tired, my case manager would make me laugh and push me to keep going.”

Warren’s case manager began helping him look for jobs in dietary, restaurant and laundry positions, but the perfect job came along at Woodlands Nursing Facility in the Housekeeping and Dietary Department. He currently works with a team which is responsible for cleaning the lobby, clearing out the trash from resident rooms, and busing the dining hall. Warren says he loves his job, but enjoys working with the residents the most.

“The residents are very nice and I can see the compassion the employees have for them at this job,” said Warren. “An ‘Angel Walk’ is held when a resident passes away. We hold hands and say a final prayer for them. It is very hard, but I know they lived a good life.”

In his free time, Warren is always eager to lend a helping hand. He is active in hockey, Boy Scouts, and other activities that provide opportunities to volunteer. Warren serves as a source of inspiration for all as he continues to strive to make his life, as well as the lives of those around him, just a bit brighter. MERS/Goodwill gave him the tools he needed to find a job he loves, but it is Warren who continues to push himself towards success and happiness.

Photos from the series "Baled" by Wesley Law

Are You Done With That? Photographing The Results Of Your Good Will

by Jordan G. Teicher

Consider the stuff of our everyday lives — the clothes, the sheets, the toys and games. It’s essential for a time, but inevitably, eventually, it all gets trashed — or donated.

And that donation process can seem a bit like magic. We drop off our used stuff, and the items disappear — or so we think.

But what truly becomes of it? Where does it go? And what does it look like?

Freelance photographer Wesley Law wanted to know. So when a friend told him about St. Louis’ Goodwill Outlet store — one of several throughout the country that serve as liquidation centers for Goodwill retail stores — Law was intent on finding a way inside.

Read More…

• Rashon Carraway calls himself Mr. Goodwill Hunting. Beyond that we love his play-on-words, this is one our favorite pages of his site, showing amazing transformations from one person’s donation to a new treasure!
• Look at how someone took one table and made two shelves! So clever, so simple. Do you have something in your house currently you could spruce up with a saw and some paint?  Photo: Infarrantly Creative
• If you are intimidated by how to shop for furniture you intend to repurpose or spruce up, take a look at this blog post called (another pun ahead): Goodwill Hunting: Ten DIY Recyclables You Should Never Pass Up. This author doesn’t tell you exactly what to do, but plenty of other websites and more of her blogs do that!
• This one is just a fun Tumblr reporting thrift store finds. So this isn’t just MERS Goodwill, or Goodwill for that matter, but anyone can find inspiration from what has been found!
• This woman spent a year shopping ALMOST exclusively at Goodwill for her and her family. It has ended now but the blog archives are there for the readin’! How long do you think you would last?

So there you have it, your required reading for this summer. Don’t forget to actually go shopping once you’ve educated yourself!

Found: Landscape painting on canvas

Location: Lake Saint Louis Goodwill Retail Store

Supplies: Acrylic paint (white, neon orange, phalto blue, black)

Total cost: $3.00 for the painting; I had the acrylic paint, but it can be found at WalMart for $0.89 per bottle.

Here is the original painting. It is acrylic paint on canvas. A nice scene, serene. Even dinosaurs find it calming.

This sat on the mantle of our new home for quite some time. Eventually, I couldn’t handle the normalcy any longer. So a giant neon orange octopus happened.

His name is Kevin. Apparently, he is a fresh water cephelapod.

I used a soft lead pencil to sketch in the creature. If you look very closely, you can see some of the remaining sketch marks. Don’t look very closely. Next, I painted in the main shapes with white. The neon orange paint was rather transparent. By putting down white paint first, the dark colors were covered and the orange showed up better. I used a bit of phalto blue (dark blue) to shade and make ripples in the water. It took two coats of white and three coats of neon orange to get the end result.

I had originally planned to paint in neon green suckers on his tentacles. Once I had my orange down, he seemed to pop pretty well on the canvas, so I stopped while I was ahead. Sometimes less is more. My goal was to add a colorful creature, and even without the suckers, Kevin is obviously a mutant octopus.

This was a pretty simple project that produced a wonderfully dramatic result. At only $3.00, I felt pretty confident directly attacking the canvas. If you are more of a planner, you may want to sketch on tracing paper over the painting, or sketch with white colored pencil. And keep in mind “there are no mistakes, just happy accidents.” Bob Ross said that. And he knows what he’s talking when it comes to painting.

If anyone tries this (or any project), please share your photos! As always, I would love to hear from any of you – questions, comments, ideas!

Happy Thrifting!

Peace, NiftyThriftyGirl

NiftyThriftyGirl@rocketmail.com

This installment – Brands!

When I am thrifting for clothes, I keep an open mind on what I may find. However, I do sometimes find myself drawn to certain brands. For example, I’m fairly likely to stop and look at an Old Navy brand piece of clothing. I know the brand, I know what size I wear in that brand, and I know that I like the styles. I have often bought sweaters, shirts, pants, and dresses from Goodwill that were Old Navy brand.

I also often find pieces of clothing at Goodwill that I would not be able to afford at full price.  This applies to the type of clothing (remember the Prom dress story) and brands of clothing.

I’m not one to brag, but I’m going to anyway.

I have a Tommy Hilfiger sweater that I picked up at the Goodwill in St. Robert, Missouri. It is a classic design, most likely from the 90s, blue with white stripes down the sleeves. I only paid a few bucks, but my posh friend who wears Manolo Blahniks (I love her, her closet makes me weak in the knees), she complimented me on it. That’s a nice feeling.

Among my other notable name brand finds: a beautiful Ann Taylor tunic shirt, a pair of Steve Madden heels, a wool Chaps sweater, a Baby Phat Tshirt (with the cat!), an Ed Hardy purse, a pair of Ed Hardy jeans, and a gorgeous kimono-style Ed Hardy shirt. I like Ed Hardy, can you tell?

The really special peices are sometimes few and far between. However, you would be surprised to see what you can find everyday. Here’s a guide to some of the brands you may know from other stores. It helps to know the brands, as you may have a better idea of what fits you and what styles you like.

Target: Merona, Xhiliration, Cherokee, Converse, Issac Mizrahi

WalMart: No Boundaries – NOBO, White Stag, Faded Glory, Simply Basic

Kmart: Basic Editions, Jaclyn Smith, Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez, Joe Boxer, Route 66

Kohl’s: ELLE, Chaps, Simply Vera Wang, Croft & Barrow, Gloria Vanderbilt, Apt. 9, SONOMA, Sag Harbour, Daisy Fuentes, Jennifer Lopez

Some brands I run across on a regular basis: Old Navy, Tommy Hilfiger, Coldwater Creek, Gap, Ann Taylor, Adidas, Body Glove, Liz Claiborne, Eddie Bauer, American Eagle, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lacoste (I have an awesome vintage Lacoste button down shirt. It’s orange!).

This is a hit and miss list. My point is, Goodwill can be very fashionable.

As always, thanks for reading. Hope you find my guide useful. I’d love to hear your ideas and stories, dear readers! Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send me a note.

Happy Thrifting!

Peace, NiftyThriftyGirl

NiftyThriftyGirl@rocketmail.com

Client Success Timothy Tompkins

Just about anything can be accomplished with a little faith in yourself and a great support system. Timothy Tompkins didn’t want a miracle; he just wanted a good job. Timothy has never focused on his diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cerebral Palsy; he has always striven to persevere and overcome any obstacle. With the help of MERS/Goodwill, he now has a job he can be proud of.

Immediately after graduating from Doniphan High School a few years ago, Timothy enrolled in Mingo Job Corps in Puxico, MO. After completing his Clerical/Custodial Certification, Timothy returned home to live with his parents. Upon returning home, he knew he wanted to find employment but didn’t know what was available in his small rural area. Timothy applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) but discontinued the process because he wanted to earn as much as possible without being limited by benefits.

Timothy’s Job Corps Case Manager recommended he research MERS/Goodwill’s employment services. Timothy worked with a Counselor in Missouri’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and began participating in MERS/Goodwill’s Supported Employment Job Development Program.

“I chose MERS/Goodwill because I knew of other programs the agency serviced in my community,” said Timothy.

Timothy had experience as a substitute Custodian with a local school but he wanted a permanent job. He and his Employment Specialist, Janel Barber, began searching for grocery stock/carry-out positions.

“From the first meeting, I could tell Timothy was committed to finding employment,” said Janel. “He is very organized in whatever he is working on. That gave both of us an advantage in his job search and it transferred to his workplace.”

Janel already had an established networking relationship with the Store Manager at Doniphan’s Town and Country Supermarket, Warren Bland. Janel and Warren encouraged Timothy to complete the paper application. Janel helped him to complete the application and encouraged him to keep following up with the store manager. A few weeks later, Timothy called Warren and secured an interview. Janel and Timothy had already practiced interview skills to make him more comfortable. Timothy was hired on the spot and began working the next day in the produce department as a Produce Stocker.

“I knew of the various programs MERS Goodwill offered in the communities throughout the state,” said Warren. “The opportunity to partner with MERS Goodwill in different programs has allowed me the advantage to have pre-screened candidates matched to the job openings that I need to fill and it has saved me money in training new employees.”

A few weeks later, Timothy was transferred to the general area of the store where he gained more responsibility. Janel, Warren and Timothy’s supervisor provided job supports until he became comfortable with his new tasks and environment.

“Because of the job supports, I can say learning the duties of my job came more easily and took some stress off of me,” said Timothy. “I knew I had someone there in my workplace supporting me to become a team player and an excellent worker.”

Timothy has been working at Town & Country Supermarket for almost six months. Recently, Timothy began working 30 hours per week and fills in as the Produce Department Stocker when needed. Timothy says he enjoys going into work and wants to live independently someday, maybe have a family, and to prove to his parents and brother they have made a difference for him.

“I am very proud of Timothy’s accomplishments. He knows that he can excel to even more opportunities in his workplace if he chooses to someday,” said Janel. “Witnessing Timothy’s smile at his workplace and knowing he’s on a path of success is a wonderful thing.”

Prepared and Photographed by ~ Pilar Davis, Freelance Journalist & Volunteer of Goodwill

Thirfting is a process.

There are those who get lucky – walk in and find exactly what they wanted. But the rest of us are mere mortals and must search. However, if you have a plan and some background knowledge, you can score some great swag. This is the first in a series of causal how-to’s on thrifting.

Let’s start somewhere that I have a LOT of experience – thrifting clothes!

When I go looking for clothes sometimes I have a specific need in mind. When I was a high school teacher I was expected to chaperone Prom. Now, we teachers, we didn’t have to dress up. Often my coworkers went simply in a nice pair of pants and a nice shirt. However, I’m not one to pass up an excuse to get dressed up. I attended four Proms – one dress bought from Torrid, one bought from Goodwill, two borrowed from a friend.

The one from Goodwill, by far the best looking.

I had been out running errands and dropped by a Goodwill, “just to take a look.” And there it was! Floor length, rhinestone embellished, blue, satiny goodness! I popped into the dressing room and found that if fit perfectly. Fifteen dollars and I had a fabulous dress for Prom. I’ve heard it said that not having a brand new dress makes it less special. In my opinion, new-to-me is just as good, and there is nothing wrong with loving a dress again.

One of my students showed the evening of Prom wearing the same dress as mine in green. I felt bad, but she was a sweetheart and we even had pictures taken together.

Do let me give the warning that this isn’t the norm. I have only once walked into a Goodwill in search of a specific piece of clothing and found exactly what I was looking for. Generally, it’s best to have a broad idea in mind. “I would like to find a black blouse” or “I’d like to find a denim skirt.” I’ve been successful on both these missions.

Another way to thrift clothes is to simply browse. Whatever the reason that I came in, I usually scan through the clothes at Goodwill. You never know what you might find!

Here are a few simple things to keep in mind. They apply to any type of thrifting, and I’ll mention them again as I go through this series.

1. Be Patient – Goodwill stores generally have more clothes than anything else. Finding the piece you have in mind may take some time. There is no substitute for standing there and flipping through the racks.

2. Be Determined – Closely related to “Be Patient.” There may be a lot of racks. Don’t give up! See your mission through. Take the time to try clothing on, too. Something that looks good on the hanger may make you look like a potato when wearing it. However, on the flip side, if you don’t try it on and you find later that it makes you look like a potato – you probably only paid a few dollars (or less) for it.

3. Be Flexible – If your mission is to find a black skirt, you will most likely be successful. Black skirts are plentiful. However, if you have set out to find a red skirt, it may be a bit more elusive. Think broad when you hit the Goodwill. Does the skirt have to be red? Or would you be content with something colorful? Searching for a colorful skirt opens up your choices – different colors, prints, patterns. You may find something great that you may have otherwise missed.

4. Be Open-Minded – I have a shirt that I adore, but on the hanger it was near hideous – covered in brown and red paisley. But, I liked the cut and shape of the shirt. I gave it a chance, tried it on, and now I never fail to get compliments when I wear it. It is a Lane Bryant brand shirt, and had I seen it in their store, I would never have picked it up. But, at Goodwill, for less then $4.00, I was willing to give it a try. Take your thrifting wins where you can.

As always, thanks for reading. Hope you find my guide useful. I’d love to hear your ideas and stories, dear readers! Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send me a note.

Happy Thrifting!

Peace, NiftyThriftyGirl

NiftyThriftyGirl@rocketmail.com

Click The Image Below To Enter