Success Stories
Earl Hunt
If you had asked Earl Edward Hunt 20 years ago where he’d be today, he couldn’t have imagined the vast changes he would make in his life.
“I thought drugs was my life,” he says. “But it always turned out wrong. Police work three shifts. You sleep one. You can’t get away. But those are the things that you ignore.”
During his third incarceration for selling drugs, Earl decided to change. He participated in a prison program to help him get off drugs and take other steps to change his life. When he was released in March 2009, he began searching for a job. Eventually, he was referred to Goodwill through Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation. He remembers arriving at the interview with his criminal record and his packet of achievement certificates from the programs he completed in prison – just hoping the case manager would believe in him.
“Society don’t take a chance on ex-felons because they did wrong. They don’t understand that once the person does wrong and they paid for that, let them move on. But a lot of times, they don’t let you.”
Earl was hired in January 2010 for his first job in 20-plus years – as a GW Commercial Services janitor for a service contract. He worked 9 months in that position, and soon he was promoted to team leader.
“I was very glad to get a job. Because a lot of people come from prison – especially if they hear lot of no’s – and you go back and do what you used to do. But I wasn’t willing to go back and do that. This is a blessing just to come to work every day.”
Earl said his biggest challenge on the job has been developing his communication skills.
“People on the streets, you deal with them in a different type of way. It was a challenge at first. I just talk straight, and I expect people to talk straight, too. … I realize now that they’re not street people. Treat people like you want to be treated, and you’ll be better off. I work on it.”
Earl’s supervisor Michael Bell said that Earl is a hard worker who has built relationships quickly and gained respect from his colleagues, earning him an endearing nickname.
“Everyone looks to Earl like a father figure. We call him our ‘Goodwill Dad,’ ” Michael says. “It’s hard for me to believe that he’s the same person that I’ve heard stories about the things he used to do, compared to the person that I know now.”
The nickname of “Goodwill Dad” makes Earl laugh heartily. “I care about the people that work for me. I always look out for them.”
Earl just purchased a two-bedroom, full-basement home – the first one he’s ever owned by himself. He says he’s proud of his accomplishments and learned from his past.
“First thing I gotta do is put God upfront, and the next thing is come to work everyday.”
Meet EarlConstance McClure
Ask Constance McClure about her job at Goodwill, and she will tell you about the “second family” she’s found at the Noblesville Goodwill Store.
“People help me if I have a bad day. They talk me through it,” Constance says. “I chose Goodwill because they understand my handicap. They help me a lot with my job and also show people how to respond to one another. It’s like a second family, my team here. I’ve been really grateful to them.”
Nine years ago, Constance moved from Middletown, Ind., to Noblesville, and worked with a job coach from Janus Developmental Services to find her job at Goodwill after first trying the fast-food industry. Her job responsibilities at Goodwill include hanging clothing, removing items from the sales floor, assisting with the display case, and stocking household merchandise and other items on the sales floor, and she now works independently without the assistance of a job coach.
Constance, who has seizures and an emotional disorder, works three days a week to help support herself and her 15-year-old son, who is mildly autistic. She lives with her parents and receives a lot of support from them and other family members. She says she also appreciates her understanding co-workers.
“I go to work and try to have a good day. I look to family to help me with my situation at home. It’s still challenging,” Constance says. “My co-workers brought another perspective to my life because when I first started here, I didn’t have friends. I just moved here from Middletown. It helped me meet people because I don’t drive. This is my second home.”
Constance’s store manager, Sherry Gather, says Constance is responsible, a hard worker and does any job she is asked. Sherry’s seen Constance grow as an individual over the years, gaining self-confidence and learning to take constructive criticism well.
“Constance is just very comfortable within the store and with other people now. She’s gained a lot of confidence over the years,” Sherry says. “She keeps people in good spirits, and she’s really helpful with the customers.”
“My job has brought me more happiness. It’s brought me more joy. It just makes me happy every day,” Constance says. “I’ve got a job. I’m happy.”
Rebekah Blane
Rebekah Blane has benefited from Goodwill’s flexibility and commitment. After being only the second person in her family to graduate from high school, Rebekah had a promising future ahead of her. But when her mother was diagnosed with a mental illness, Rebekah stayed at home to care for her. Even with her caregiving responsibilities, she managed to enroll at Indiana Business College and earn an associate’s degree. But when her mother passed away, everything changed.
With no support system, Rebekah struggled with the loss of her mother and became an alcoholic. She began writing bad checks, and eventually, she was arrested. Convicted of forgery, Rebekah served time and was eventually referred to Goodwill from work release.
Rebekah has made great strides since beginning her work release program. She embraces the need to do the best job she possibly can, to go that extra mile. In fact, she is the only employee in Goodwill Commercial Services who is trained on every piece of equipment and in every role on the assembly floor. When there is a need to be filled, her supervisors can count on her to do it.
Rebekah’s future became even brighter when she began the New Beginnings Program, a six-month program that requires individuals to maintain employment, attend training sessions and make progress on their goals. They work on creating support systems and building critical life skills and also build and improve computer literacy and write effective résumés.
She also has begun to pursue some of her personal dreams, like working with children at the transitional housing facility where she lives. She understands that she will have a tough road ahead to rebuild people’s trust in her. Rebekah explains, “The nature of my crimes will make it harder to get back, but I have the tenacity to go for what I want.”
Rebekah refuses to let go of her dreams. “Even though it looks rough, and it looks like you can’t make it, that you can’t move – you have to get up and keep going. Each day gets a little bit better. It gets a little bit easier – you just have to keep pushing through.”
See her video