Goodwill

Sandra Leigh

“Goodwill helped me find the job I wanted.”

The smell of new foods. The flavor of new streets and new people. The drone of a new language that numbs your mind. Oregon is a long way from Burma. You’re not sure which is tougher: learning a new language or having a disability.

Goodwill helped Sandra Leigh in 1986 as a sheltered employee. She worked in the southeast Portland Production and Contracts Department, collating mailing materials and packets of brochures. Sandra’s supervisors encouraged her to use and expand her English skills. They helped her overcome shyness and build positive relationships with coworkers. They gave her opportunities to work independently.

In March 1994, Goodwill assisted Sandra in her transition to a competitive job as a hostess at the northeast Portland Red Robin. She likes working at the restaurant and earning a regular paycheck. She has new confidence in her people skills, an important requirement for dealing with customers and coworkers.