Older woman wearing glasses

Seven years ago, Carol Gilbert and her husband left Virginia and relocated to the Woodstock area to be closer to their son and his family. The couple had been employed for many years as contractors to the US Postal Service, delivering mail to rural areas. As they settled into their new home, Carol became acquainted with Goodwill as a shopper. She and her daughter-in-law enjoyed many outings as they hunted for treasures at the Woodstock store.

Not one to sit around, Carol also started walking three miles a day to improve her health. As she grew stronger, she decided that although she was in her seventies, she needed to look for a job to supplement her family’s income. Her job search proved challenging, as many employers were unwilling to consider someone of retirement age.

By July 2021, Carol visited the Woodstock Career Center and her daughter-in-law helped her complete the application for employment at the store. Juliet Scheele, the store’s assistant manager, was immediately impressed with Carol’s solid work history. Carol’s personality shone through in the interview and Juliet saw a lot of potential.

Carol started at three days per week and eventually increased to five days a week. She really likes her job, especially her role in the wares department. Carol shares, “The people who work here are so kind, patient, caring, and personable. I’ve never had a job like this.”

In her year with Goodwill, Carol has exceeded expectations. Juliet says she is model employee — a dedicated merchandise runner, who, in addition to her work in wares, is always willing to help in other departments and stay after a shift if needed. Juliet was so impressed with Carol that she sent her to the agency’s Train the Trainer classes for certification. Carol appreciates Goodwill’s investment in training and Juliet has observed that following the class, Carol has brought even more value to her work.

Although she often receives calls from recruiters, she politely refuses to consider the opportunities they are presenting. “Goodwill took a chance on me. I’m staying here.” Carol says.