John Doctor had been working various jobs throughout the years, unsure of what direction he wanted to take. What he did know was that he enjoyed working with his hands and being outside. Ultimately, he was looking for a change.  

“I was trying to find my thing – something more fulfilling,” he said. “I didn’t want to clock in and sit at a desk all day. I wanted to find something that not only fits my personality, but would also allow me to feed my family and take care of myself so I could enjoy waking up every day.” 

After doing some carpentry at his job, he searched online for carpentry classes and found Goodwill’s tuition-free training courses. He signed up for the Construction Basics and Carpentry training programs.  

“It was a good class,” he said. “Very informative. It gave me the basic knowledge and information I needed. You learn measurements and understanding the ins and outs of how construction and carpentry work.”  

Goodwill participants receive wraparound services to help them on their pathways to prosperity. Two of the most valued tools are a Career Navigator that works with participants one-on-one to achieve their goals, and an Employer Engagement Team who helps them find jobs. John worked with Robert Perry and Matt Robson to achieve his goals. 

“Mr. Perry was on top of resume building and mock interviews. Matt would find different jobs – he’d send me three or four jobs every day,” he said. “Everyone in the building, you can tell they care, and they really want to help people.” 

John now works as an installer for West Shore Home, where he installs bathrooms, showers and flooring, and is training in windows and doors. He enjoys the variety and hands-on work and looks forward to growing with the company. 

“I love that I do something different every single day, and it’s a new challenge every single day. That fits my personality,” he said.  

For John, the fact that Goodwill’s program was tuition-free made all the difference for him. 

“The free training course allowed me to figure out where I wanted to go without putting up thousands of dollars,” he said. “I found several other programs that were as much as $5,000, and nowhere near as detailed. You still have to commit your time, but the least I could do was show up and show out.”

“This program gave me another skill; it gave me a trade. The more you can learn, the more people will need you. This enhanced my personal portfolio.”  

If you would like to help people like John on their pathway to prosperity, consider making a financial contribution, or dropping off your gently used donations at one of our 36 stores or donation drop-offs.