In July 2020, Eric Harris, a resident of Fulton County, sought help from Goodwill’s Old National Career Center. Having experienced a few difficult years that included incarceration, Eric wanted to make a positive change in his life. He aimed to secure a stable job with a good wage and move out of transitional housing.

Eric enrolled in Goodwill’s forklift training program, which he believed would help him achieve his goals. With the help of funding from SNAP E&T, Eric successfully completed the program and obtained certifications in forklift operation, CPR/First Aid, and OSHA. He was grateful for his job readiness training, which, coupled with job coaching, helped him improve his soft skills.

Moreover, Eric availed himself of a grant from Fulton CARES and completed all three levels of the Digital Literacy program offerings. He admitted to having limited computer skills due to his history of incarceration and homelessness. However, he was thankful for the opportunity to learn basic computer skills and Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. The program also covered email etiquette, resume writing, and tips for virtual interviews.

Eric’s Employment Specialist, Tammy Thomas, connected him with a recruiter, which paved the way for him to secure employment as a forklift driver with DHL. He is now earning an hourly wage of $15.00. Eric is immensely grateful to Goodwill and its funders for providing training programs that helped him gain knowledge and improve his life.