By Anna Skinner
The Carey Road Goodwill takes great pride in hiring employees who might experience barriers, and it was recognized at the Goodwill Annual Awards Breakfast at JW Marriot in downtown Indianapolis April 28 for its commitment to the Goodwill mission, which is to empower people through education, health and employment by hiring employees with barriers.
Stephanie Pointer, a team lead at the store, knows firsthand how Goodwill can help people get back on their feet.
“I came here on house arrest,” she said. “I had two felonies, and thankfully, this place employed me, and immediately after I got out of house arrest, I was able to get both my felonies reduced to misdemeanors.”
Other ways Goodwill helps is by accommodating people with autism or other special needs, such as blindness and cerebral palsy.
“Goodwill is working with people where some other places may see them as (not able to be hired),” Pointer said. “We are much more willing to work with them on that and be really open about it all. I love seeing the success with people around here.”
“It’s a really prestigious award because this is part of our mission,” site manager Ric Wilson said. “Our mission side is what drives our business, and our business drives our mission. We have to be professionals through all of it for it to work.”
Some programs offered through the Carey Road Goodwill include hiring recently released inmates or offering education to adults who did not receive a high school diploma.
For more, visit goodwillindy.org.