Meet Ray

“The programs that Goodwill offered have changed my life and given me a new career.”

When Ray was released from federal prison, he thought no one would hire him because of his criminal background. He was intimidated about looking for work, but knew for certain that he couldn’t fall back into old habits and undoubtedly return to prison.

While Ray was living in a halfway house, he was introduced to a Goodwill Career Case Manager who helped him complete Career Advancement Training: he learned to interview for jobs, manage his personal finances, and create his resume; all while completing on-the-job training at a Goodwill distribution warehouse.

Ray excelled in the program and was hired as a truck driver helper with the Donation Acquisition Team. Not long after he started, a customer sent his Manager a letter praising Ray’s work and, complimenting his representation for Goodwill. This encouraged Ray to make his new career choice – to begin studying to get his very own Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

Today, Ray is a Community Donations Box Truck Driver for Goodwill Central Texas, and he has his CDL! Ray’s coworkers say he’s a natural-born leader and that people in our community know and ask for him by name! His team members really appreciate his great attitude and he is always happy to help out. Way to go Ray!

Ray says with pride “Before Goodwill, I did not have hope and didn’t know where I would have ended up. But Thanks to Goodwill I now have a positive view of life, a new career, and a lot of hope.”