William was eager to learn and put forth a solid effort into any task he was given.

william revis

individual employment services (ies)

participant

 

William joined our team at the Warehouse in August of 2014. It was obvious from the beginning that William was eager to learn and put forth a solid effort into any task he was given. He quickly submerged himself in the daily activities and made himself available to his fellow coworkers. This meant offering assistance, lending a hand without being asked and also recognizing the need to tidy up work spaces. This extra work kept our environment clean and clutter-free. As we got to know William, we learned of his love for sports, his ear for music and also that he had his CDL license.

 

With the consistent effort he had given and his previous professional driving experience, we couldn’t think of a better candidate to fill our open driving position than William himself. Our driving positions are certainly no walk in the park as the delivery schedules are incredibly demanding. The drivers are often exposed to the elements of harsh weather while the importance of being safe in all aspects of their duties is extremely high. William has stepped up to the plate and continues to give us that same strong effort. We look forward to seeing William continue to grow with us. Look out for him at the retail locations and say hi, for he is a truly pleasant individual to work with!

Lucy remains positive and always moves forward with a smile.

lucy gutierrez-diaz

family first initiative (ffi)

program participant

 

Lucy’s situation was very difficult; she was alone and scared with two young children and only a part time job. She was desperate to find reliable daycare and work full time hours. Her husband was unable to enter into the country, and with no family here things seemed hopeless. But none of this stopped her from doing absolutely anything to provide for her children. Even without a vehicle Lucy manages to take her oldest son to school and her baby to daycare, all while never being late for work. Not even a language barrier stops this amazing woman. Lucy remains positive and always moves forward with a smile.

 

Her favorite part of the Family First Initiative program is having someone that she can communicate with. Recently Lucy completed the required classes to obtain her drivers license and has opened a checking and savings account. She continues to save up for a reliable vehicle. Lucy’s next goals are to learn English and further her education.

He is always willing to lend a hand or speak an encouraging word.

joshua lutters

community employment services (ces)

program participant

 

Up until January 1st, Josh had been the Primary Tagger at the Rocky Hill Goodwill Store. When management discontinued the use a work crew, we had no problem finding him a new job. Josh’s excellent job skills made him the perfect person to fill the Primary Tagger role at our Southington Store. Although Josh was a little nervous going to a new site he acclimated to his new store almost immediately!

 

Josh is an eager worker with a vibrant personality who has made continual progress on all of his work and behavioral goals. He has successfully quit smoking, improving his focus on work and decreasing his number of breaks. This led to higher wages which have steadily increased over the past year.

 

Josh is such a caring individual; he is always willing to lend a hand or speak an encouraging word. He is also an enthusiastic participant in the newly formed Easter Seals Advisory Committee. Josh, we are very proud of the progress you have made! Keep up the good work!

Sharonda was extremely focused on rebuilding her life.

sharonda cherry

community reentry services (crs)

middletown participant

 

Sharonda Cherry was studying to become a nurse and focusing on making a better life for her children. But an abusive relationship soon forced her into a downward spiral. She was drinking heavily and began indulging in illegal activities, eventually losing her job and car. Sharonda’s world collapsed when she was sentenced to 12 months in prison, leaving behind three young children.

 

Upon her release Sharonda had tremendous rebuilding to do. She and her children were living in a shelter when she applied for the Community Reentry Services Skills for Success program. From the first day of class Sharonda was extremely focused on rebuilding her life and finding sustainable employment. She completed the program successfully, receiving the Perseverance and Heart to Change Award.

 

Since graduation, Sharonda has found stable child-care, housing and obtained full-time employment. She then took her success further by securing additional part-time employment. Even with her busy schedule, Sharonda still finds the time to be a hands-on mother.

 

She stated, “One piece of the program that helped me was the Putting Your Past Behind You workshop. It seemed as though once I told my story, I made up my mind that the past would stay in the past, never allowing my prison sentence to dictate my future.”

 

Sharonda continues to be a strong advocate for the program; she refers potential clients, stops by the office and speaks at graduation to inspire participants.