Dieana: "Life is so much better!"

Imagine being 14 years old, without a mother, without a father, without food, a home or a place to sleep at night, yet determined to finish high school to try and make a better life for yourself.

Now imagine being 18 years old, having just completed high school, but still without a home, food, a job, a family that cares about you, and the impending threat of losing your new born baby.

Tough to imagine isn’t it? It wasn’t for 19 year old Dieana Brand. She lived this difficult childhood. More importantly, with the help of Goodwill of Greater Washington, she overcame her many challenges.

Dieana grew up in Washington, DC and lived with her grandmother until 1999 when she was 14. That year, her grandmother passed away and Dieana suddenly found herself all alone, without anyone to turn to for support. Her mother was a crack addict and didn’t play much of a role in the young girl’s life. She would disappear for years at a time, usually coming home for just a few days before disappearing again.

So Dieana was forced to turn to the streets. She lived from day to day, sleeping whenever and wherever she could find a place to lay her head, and often without having had anything to eat. All the while, Dieana was determined to complete high school, believing that her education would be the key to a better life. “It was a tough childhood”, said Dieana. “I did what I had to do to survive.”

Shortly before graduating from high school Dieana became pregnant. But even then she remained focused on completing her education. When she turned 18, Dieana graduated from high school, had a beautiful baby girl and named her Trinity. Dieana thought that perhaps her struggles were finally behind her. Unfortunately, new problems arose.

After graduation, Dieana was still living on the streets and hadn’t yet found a job. The courts were threatening to take her baby away unless she could find work and improve her situation. Dieana didn’t know where to turn or what to do. Her baby was the most important thing in her life and she simply couldn’t afford to lose her. “Trinity is my heart. If I have to work two jobs to take care of her, then that’s what I’ll do”, Dieana thought.

One day shortly thereafter, she struck up a conversation with another woman at a bus stop and casually stated that she was looking for work. The woman told Dieana that she should go to Goodwill. It just so happens that this woman was already in one of Goodwill’s training programs and thought we could help Dieana.

Dieana had nothing to lose, so she paid Goodwill a visit. She immediately enrolled in one of our training programs and 30 days later we were able to place her in a full-time position as a custodian at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Northeast Washington.

“I love my job”, Dieana told us. “It’s the most money I’ve ever made in my life and I feel like I’m helping save lives by cleaning homes of germs and keeping people healthy. I’m very proud of what I do and I’m still learning everyday.”

Dieana is now off welfare for the first time in her life and has regained her dignity. “I’m glad I’m working and not sitting around waiting for the government to send me a check once a month,” She told us. “I can now buy new things for my baby and sometimes for me. Life is so much better.”

The courts let Dieana keep her baby. She now has her own place to call home and one day hopes to run her own cleaning service. She gratefully credits Goodwill of Greater Washington with helping her turn her life around. “I would recommend Goodwill to anyone who needs a job or job skills. It’s a great program and I learned a lot…a whole lot!

By giving to Goodwill of Greater Washington, you will be providing people like Dieana a second chance in life.

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