Bill White: "Goodwill Saved My Life!"

In the 1980s Bill White was a bright, young man in his mid-twenties who should have been excited about his future. Instead he was homeless, sleeping by the railroad tracks within view of the U.S. Capitol, eating only when he could find food. Bill hadn’t spoken to his family in years because he was too proud to ask them for help. He simply couldn’t find work. The longer he went without a job, the harder it became for him to find one! But try he did!

Then one day, Bill was introduced to Goodwill of Greater Washington. The relationship was perfect for Bill because Goodwill didn’t offer him a handout. We offered him an opportunity. Bill took that opportunity and began working as a pest control technician. After succeeding there, Goodwill trained Bill as a truck driver and contracted with him to transport donated goods between the Goodwill donation centers and retail stores. The harder he worked, the more routes he was given and the more money he earned.

Bill was now able to afford his own apartment, stock his cupboard and rebuild his life! But Bill had a dream! Eventually he saved enough money to buy his own business, Bill’s Seafood Kitchen in the District.

Bill is his own man again. He is not only a successful entrepreneur, but he now trains and hires employees of his own, including his mother! Bill also runs a boarding house and is about to open his third business, a rib restaurant called Ribs in the House! He’s even working with other local businesses to establish a foundation to benefit needy children in his neighborhood, called Children of the Hood.

Bill has regained his dignity, and he did it through hard work and the help of Goodwill of Greater Washington.

“Goodwill helped me learn to cry again. I had forgotten what emotions felt like for so long because I couldn’t afford to feel them. If I did, I was afraid of what I might do”, Bill told us. “I was truly blessed to have found Goodwill. They saved my life.

Bill’s story is one of perseverance and success. A life rebuilt, dignity regained! We hope that his story will inspire others to seek the services provided by Goodwill of Greater Washington. There are so many Bill Whites out there who need organizations like Goodwill. And that’s why Goodwill needs people like you!

Did you know that a gift of $25 a month to Goodwill will help someone get their GED or provide complete job training and placement services for an individual in need. $50 will help us renovate our food preparation instructional facility. A $100 donation will pay for someone’s educational materials. And a $500 donation will buy a new computer for our training centers!

Your help is crucial to the fulfillment of our mission of providing job training and placement services for people with disadvantages and disabilities. Together we can share many more success stories like Bill White’s.

Goodwill of Greater Washington is making great strides in our community, but we need your generosity to continue helping those who are willing to work to improve their lives and the lives of their families.

Thank you for your continued support of Goodwill of Greater Washington. You are helping people like Bill White regain their dignity by giving them a second chance in life