SUCCESS STORY
Sales and Service Training Program: Craig Bolland
March 8, 2009
Goodwill has given Craig Bolland something he thought he’d never see: a second chance.
Not so long ago, Bolland was convinced his days were numbered, even though he was just in his early 20s. He was addicted to drugs, broke, homeless (when he wasn’t in jail) and alienated from family and friends. “I assumed that I’d overdose or die on the street,” says Bolland. “Sometimes, that’s what I wished for.”
Today, Craig marvels at his good fortune: he’s reunited with his family; he also has a job he loves, colleagues who count on him, a bank account, and a place of his own. He’s been clean and sober for close to a year. The greatest change, however, is less tangible: he now has self-confidence and a sense of purpose.
Craig credits Goodwill with the turn his life has taken. Last year, he stopped using drugs and was looking for work when he read about Goodwill’s transitional job program in the newspaper. He applied and was accepted to the Sales and Service Training Program at Goodwill’s Fillmore store.
This pilot program, which is a year old, provides intensive training for jobs in the retail and hospitality industries. Program participants receive on-the-job training and are compensated for their work. The program reflects Goodwill’s commitment to providing solid, transferable career skills and experience.
Craig’s specialty is visual merchandizing, that is, he’s in charge of how the store looks -- from clothing displays to window décor. Dianne Yeaton, Goodwill’s Career Advisor says she sees a great future for him.
For Craig Bolland, having a future at all --never mind a great one-- is something he doesn’t take for granted. Thanks to Goodwill, he now has the tools he needs to build that future: solid skills, a paycheck and a sense of community. “Goodwill gave me my hope back,” he says. “Now it’s up to me.”
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