FREE Job Assistance & Training | Mokan Goodwill

Kim's Story

“I remember hearing about how Goodwill taught him [grandpa] to fix small appliances and helped him find work.” Fast forward 50 years and Goodwill is providing the same service for Kim Lewis.

Colin's Story

Meet Colin. Colin has been working for Goodwill for six years! Pretty awesome, right? He works on the Computer Recycling Center (CRC) team, which is a transitional employment program that partners with Dell to recycle computers. Though six years doesn’t seem transitional, at Goodwill …

Darrell's Story

Meet Darrell. In early 2014 Darrell received placement help and job coaching from Goodwill for a dishwasher position at a Bob Evans restaurant. But our services didn’t stop there. In May 2015, Bob Evans restaurant closed and Darrell was suddenly unemployed. He put in a few applications…

Dani's Story

Meet Dani.  Those who know Dani will tell you the Power of Work changed her life. Through Project SEARCH, a partnership between Goodwill, North Kansas City School District, Children’s Mercy, Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Center for Human Ser…

Heaven's Story

Meet Heaven. The first thing you should know about Heaven: she never gives up. Starting at a young age, Heaven had to take on a lot of adult responsibilities, which made it hard for her to connect with her peers. When she turned 16, she started working where many of her family members work…

Ronnishia's Story

A hardworking young mother of two, Ronnishia wanted something more — she wanted to provide a better life for her children and become a role model for them. 

Adney's Story: The Next Chapter

Tim's Story

Meet Tim. Tim and his family were told to be happy with participating in the Special Olympics and that the only work he would do would be in a sheltered environment. That wasn’t good enough.

Zachary's Story

Stephen's Story

Meet Stephen. Stephen is someone who perseveres through it all, no matter how long it takes. He is motivated to care for his family, especially for his son. He has endured many layoffs, including a position he held for 18 years, but that didn’t stop him. Stephen found a new job workin…

Kevin's Story

Meet Kevin. Kevin's story shows the power of perseverance when it’s paired with Goodwill. A learning disability was just one barrier that made it difficult for Kevin to find work. His case worker with Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation referred him to Goodwill for hands-on he…

Paul's Story

Meet Paul. Paul was ready for his second chance. He had great work experience as a store manager, but Paul also had barriers to employment. He has a health condition and a criminal record. His family situation deteriorated along with his health, and, after serving time in jail, he lost his f…

Michael's Story

Meet Michael. Michael visited Goodwill’s Career Center on his day off from work to share some big news.  Looking at the smile on his face, you would never guess how many obstacles, barriers, headaches, and heartaches he's endured.

Robert's Story

Meet Robert. Robert came to us at the Goodwill GoodWORKS Career Center with his parole officer at his side. With less than 10 years left before reaching what he called his “retirement birthday,” Robert had anything but a typical work life. 

Keshaun's Story

Meet Keshaun. Keshaun participated in Goodwill’s Quest Academy (formerly Urban Career Academy) for career exploration after leaving high school.  Through this program, he gained work experience at Showtime Auto Detailing. At the completion of the program, he was immediately …

Ron's Story

Derek's Story

Meet Derek. Derek had no money to renew his driver’s license, repair his car, or buy a phone when he came to Goodwill's GoodWORKS Career Center.

Sean's Story

Meet Sean. When Sean graduated in 2013 with a degree in Speech Communications, he didn’t anticipate how difficult it would be to find a job.

Adney's Story

Like many Americans, Adney became concerned that he wouldn’t have enough retirement income to live out his golden years in the way that he wanted. All of a sudden, someone that spent the majority of their life thinking of others first, found himself isolated and afraid.

Trae'shell's Story

Meet Trae’shell. Trae’shell participated in Project SEARCH, a high school transition program that provides real-life work experience to help youth with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to adult life. For Trae'shell, each internship helped…

Megan's Story

Meet Megan.  When Megan was young, she helped her grandma bake cookies and brownies. She dreamed of a job where she could bake all day. Through Project SEARCH, a partnership between Goodwill, North Kansas City School District, Children’s Mercy, Vocational Rehab…

Shandi's Story

Meet Shandi. Ten years ago, Shandi was a Goodwill success story. A client with great work ethic, she had earned and kept employment in her former placement. But when Shandi came back to Goodwill last year, she was not working. The loss of employment put her family in turmoil. She knew t…

Elizabeth's Story

Meet Elizabeth. When Elizabeth came to Goodwill for Quest Academy, she lacked self-confidence. She was told over and over again that she wouldn’t succeed. That didn’t stop her. Elizabeth never missed a class and always actively participated – even when she was pushed outs…

Melody's Story

Meet Melody. Melody visited the free Goodwill GoodWORKS Career Center in August. She was in a transitional living program after incarceration. With help from Goodwill, she quickly found employment with a retail inventory company, but the job didn’t fully meet her needs.

Clarence's Story

The Holidays are much brighter this year for Clarence Brown, after he got just the gift he wanted in time for Christmas…a full time job. “It’s a lot of stress off of me knowing that I can provide for my kids,” he says. “Last year I wasn’t able to get …

Monica's Story

Meet Monica. There are so many great things we could say about Monica, but one thing that stands out is how much she has grown! Let's start at the beginning. Monica was referred to Goodwill's Extended Employment Program towards the end of her high school career. In February 2017, she earne…

Dwaylan's Story

Meet Dwaylan. Dwaylan enrolled in  Goodwill Quest Academy eager to grow and learn. Quest Academy participants split their time between the classroom and a local internship to gain job skills and work experience. Dwaylan chose an IT internship and impressed his superv…

Emily's Story

Meet Emily. Emily was a recent high school graduate who spent her days sleeping late at her grandmother’s house. After receiving a referral from Vocational Rehabilitation, Emily completed Goodwill’s Career Impact Program and earned a job at Hy-Vee.

Brett's Story

Meet Brett. Brett moved to his mom’s home in the summer of 2015. He was selling his plasma weekly to pay for their utility bills. Brett desperately needed a job, but a disability impaired his ability to read and write, and consequently pass a written driver’s test. Without a driv…

Josh's Story

After overcoming challenges to graduate from high school, Josh was eager to enter the workforce. Understanding that he needed additional support to secure a job, he and his family turned to Goodwill.Together with his Goodwill Career Navigator he searched for job openings, completed applicati…

Angela's Story

Meet Angela. Angela is a veteran of the single mom-job. She is the single provider for her four wonderful kids. She has some difficulties in learning specific skills that have, in the past, interrupted her educational and employment paths.

Preston's Story

Jayla's Story

Meet Jayla. After graduating high school, Jayla was eager to find a job that was perfect for her. To get the skills she needed to start a career, Jayla participated in Project SEARCH, a high school transitional program that provides real-life work experience to help youth with significant b…

Brenden's Story

Meet Brenden. He is hardworking and strives to grow in his position every day. Brenden graduated from Goodwill’s Quest Academy, a six-week career exploration program for young adults. Students learn workplace skills and explore career possibilities through classroom training and intern…

Shelley's Story

Meet Shelley. Shelley was a Goodwill client in early 2014, when we first provided guidance and an opportunity for her to succeed. She quickly earned employment at a local janitorial company. After a couple of years, Goodwill saw the company slowly decline and a handful of clie…

Kim's Story: The Next Chapter

“When I called Goodwill for the first time and [someone] picked up, I knew what I had found. I found a good place…and it just kind of went from there.”