Goodwill

One Inmate at a Time

“I love what I do. I am met with such enthusiasm. I am motivated everyday to help as many people as I can.”

“I’m a 71 year old geezer and work full time,” says Goodwill’s Tom Armand. An employee for nearly five years, Tom came to the nonprofit with a resume that included a dozen years teaching with his Masters in Education and another 20 years working in aerospace with Lockheed Martin. “After we came back from the teaching position in China, my forwarded resume was met with great enthusiasm,” but none of the interviews worked out. He believes he was not hired because of his age.

After six months looking for work, Armand went to Goodwill in the spring of 2005. He was hired to work in the donations department. Then he learned about our Job Connection program that helps people inside and outside of Goodwill find community employment. The program did find him a job -- but instead of leaving Goodwill, the educator was hired as a Job Skills Search Instructor for Job Connection.

In 2009 alone, Tom taught job readiness classes in Oregon correctional facilities to more than 600 inmates while working for Goodwill. In addition, he volunteers on weekends through a prison ministry program and with the Oregon Department of Corrections’ Home for Good in Oregon. “I love what I do. I am met with such enthusiasm. I am motivated everyday to help as many people as I can.”

Tom admits working is no hobby and that twenty-five percent of his income goes to his and his wife’s health insurance. And he says while retirement would be wonderful now – it is unknown when he will be able to retire. “Meanwhile, I come here and can reach people who want to do better. That is my idea of a great day.”

To see Tom's KGW video go to: http://www.kgw.com/archive/69228497.html