Read Emma's Amazing Story:

Mission Moment

Life was hard in the Philippines with few opportunities to earn money. So much so that Emma decided to move to Singapore to earn the money she needed to help her two sons go to college. It was important to her that they have a better life than she had, and she knew education was the key. Fortunately, it was close enough that she could make frequent trips home to see her family.

Seven years ago, Emma learned that the petition her husband’s family had submitted to bring him to the United States had been approved-- and the petition included Emma. Emma did not want to go. She had a family to think about. However, her sons encouraged her to take advantage of the opportunity. They told her she would be missing out on a chance to have a better life and opportunities in the US. She knew they were right. Telling herself she would return one day, she found herself on the way to Florida. Emma and her husband moved in with his family and both began looking for work.

Being new to the area made their job search difficult. They relied on bicycles for transportation which kept them close to home. Emma felt discouraged at times, but she never gave up. Eventually, Emma found a part -time job caring for an elderly lady in her home. One day, she happened to see a friend from the Philippines at the mall. Emma told her about the trouble she and her husband were having finding good jobs. As it happened, her friend was a Goodwill employee and encouraged Emma to apply. There was a store close to where they were living. The idea of walking into a store and asking for a job was scary, but Emma mustered up the courage, went into the store, and asked to see the manager. She was told the manager would not be there for two hours. So, she and her husband waited at the bus stop until the time came. The manager took Emma to her office, spoke to her for a while and offered her a job working at the donor door.

Emma remembers it well because she says she felt like that was the day her life started. Three days later she was working at a full-time job close to home. She was so happy! It was hard work, and she missed her family. But Emma told herself she would get through it. She reminded herself this was just the start. She got support from management, other team members and from her GoodPartner Coach who she says was always willing to talk to her and help whenever she needed it. Eventually, Emma began to feel at home and even felt she had another family at Goodwill. In the meantime, her husband found a part -time job at a local hospital. It was less than ideal, but it was a job. Once again, Goodwill came through.

Emma’s manager told her she would like to move her to a production position. This meant a job opening – did her husband still need a job? Emma could not believe her luck! She called to tell her husband the news. He resigned from his part-time job and completed his Goodwill application that day. He interviewed and got the job! Now, they both had full- time work. This increased income enabled them to pay his family their part of the rent and to begin saving for their own place. Within six months, the couple found a supportive landlord who wanted to help. He charged them an affordable amount of rent and they moved into their own apartment.

Next on the list was a driver’s license and then a car. Emma studied, got her learner’s permit and her GoodPartner Coach set her up with driving lessons. Again, her landlord was there to help. It took a while--but he found a vehicle at an auction that he sold to Emma at cost.

All Emma’s hard work, planning, saving, and budgeting has paid off. She has been able to help her family financially and put two sons through college. She traveled to the Philippines for the first time three years after moving to Florida when she went back to attend her sons’ graduations. Both completed their bachelor’s degrees – one in Business Administration degree and the other in Political Science. Since then, she has been able to save enough to purchase property in the Philippines. Her sons are living in one house and she will have place there too when she retires. Until that day comes, Emma feels her home is at Goodwill. She gets a bit emotional when talking about her job. She says Goodwill has always treated her well and taken care of her and her husband. She cannot imagine working at any other place.

Changing lives through the power of work!