“L ife is good” says Caprice Taylor of Moline, Ill., who was named in May 2010 as Goodwill’s

first Mike Townsend Graduate of the Year for her efforts to overcome employment barriers. We recently caught up with Caprice.

Caprice’s life has shifted into a comfortable and familiar routine after more than two years of successful employment at the Goodwill store.

Today is a sharp contrast to a few years ago when the Marine Corps veteran was living in Atlanta, Ga., and the economy was tanking. Caprice was facing

troublesome problems including major surgery, mounting bills, a head-strong teenager, a job loss, and the loss of her car.

Problems just kept snowballing, Caprice recalls. “You constantly were trying to make your way, and every time you turned around, you ran into a brick wall.” Caprice, in her 30s, returned to what she called “ground zero”— her parents’ home in the Quad Cities.

Caprice knew she needed a permanent job to aid her recovery. One area service agency could not help because she did not qualify. They referred her to the Veteran’s Administration (VA). The VA referred her to Steve Bunn, Goodwill’s Veteran’s Services Case Manager.

“Once I got to Steve, everything got started,” said Caprice.

She enrolled in the Goodwill Vet’s Program and followed all program requirements including conducting job searches, attending classes, and

participating in group sessions. Caprice says that it helped that Goodwill staff believed in her.

Through it all, Caprice maintained a positive attitude and often talked to fellow vets about life situations, receiving help as she needed and offering help when she was able.

She began working 12 hours per week at the Moline Goodwill store. Caprice did everything asked of her and showed great pride in her work. She was pleasant, dependable, worked hard and was never late.

Caprice worked as a temporary employee at Goodwill for a month, and then accepted a full-time position in November 2009 as a production clerk at the Moline Goodwill Store.

Soon after, she moved into her own place, a third floor apartment in an older house on a hill, affording her a wonderful view of the Quad Cities. Today, she lives in the same apartment, and co-workers sometimes tease her about her personal Rapunzel Tower.

Renting her home, paying her bills and having money for things she wants to do are evidence that Caprice has turned a corner.

However, Caprice has not forgotten the lean days. She still uses public transportation, but knows that one day she will own a car again. She is already saving for that goal, determined that there will be no loans this time.

Today, Caprice is in a long-distance relationship and has a job she enjoys. She is living her life as she wants, and because of the help she received from the Goodwill Vet’s Program, she is able to see possibilities in her future.

Dear Friends,

When things don’t go their way, kids often ask for a “do over.” In fact, we probably all did this as kids. As adults, do overs are big and often scary deals. Adult do overs often mean that life has gotten out of control or is overwhelming. Here at Goodwill, we have lots of clients who are starting over because of a traumatic injury, illness or because life became overwhelming and I admire their strength, courage and perseverance for doing so.

Harmon Harris has worked to overcome not only health barriers but a life that wound up in the Sixth

Judicial Drug Court. Though he could have been discouraged by the bumps in the road, Harmon believed in himself and the support he found at Goodwill. Harmon now has a steady job and regularly works out to address his health issues.

For Caprice Taylor, moving back in with her parents as an adult signaled a low point in her life and she knew it was time to seek help to get back on track. Goodwill services for disadvantaged veterans in the Quad Cities gave her a path and she followed it. A year after earning the agency’s inaugural Mike Townsend Client Graduate Award, she is full-time Goodwill employee and a shining example to others and to her co-workers.

Thank you for your continued support of Goodwill of the Heartland.

Jeff Nock, President & CEO

S U C C E S S F U L L Y E M P L O Y E D

Townsend Graduate of the Year Contributes at Moline StoreCaprice Taylor Says “Life is Good!”

IN WORKSthe

Caprice Taylor with award namesake, Mike Townsend, former vice president of programs at

Goodwill of the Heartland

Caprice Taylor runs the register at the Moline Store.

www.goodwillheartland.org find us on Spring 2011

Jeff NockPresident & CEO

1410 S. First Ave.Iowa City, IA 52240Return Service Requested

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PAIDPermit No. 415

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Bettendorf Store2333 Cumberland Square Drive563-344-9431

Burlington StoreOpening Summer 2011

Cedar Rapids Donation Center802 34th Street SE319-862-0476

Cedar Rapids East Store5520 Council Street NE319-378-0393

Cedar Rapids West Store2000 Scotty Drive SW319-654-9585

Clinton Store1015 13th Avenue North563-519-0156

Coralville Store2551 Heartland Place319-545-6581

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Goodwill Reboot1410 S First Ave.319-248-0020

Iowa City Store985 Highway 6 East319-337-3548

Marion Store3202 7th Avenue319-373-0480

Moline Store4241 Avenue of the Cities309-736-3039

Muscatine Store2001 Cedar Plaza Drive563-264-1947

Rock Island Store4664 44th Street309-786-1220

Washington Store312 E. Washington Street319-653-2548

Goodwill StoreS and donation SiteS:

In The Works is published by Goodwill of the Heartland, a not-for-profit organization serving southeast Iowa and the Quad City area. Goodwill is accredited by CARF International.

A United Way Agency.

Terri Davis, ChairShuttleworth & Ingersoll, P.L.C.Cedar Rapids

Elizabeth Hladky, SecretaryGazette CommunicationsCedar Rapids

Rick AndersonDeere & CompanyMoline

David Bywater,TreasurerTru-Art GraphicsIowa City

Rose DonnellyRockwell CollinsCedar Rapids

Matthew FraschtUniversity of Iowa Community Credit UnionCoralville

Charles Helms, M.D., Ph.D.U of I Hospitals & ClinicsIowa City

Julie KunkelHills Bank & Trust Co.Coralville

Dale KretschmarCedar Rapids

Mark Moser University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Iowa City

Tom RocklinUniversity of IowaIowa City

Ang TaakeEvergreen Packaging EquipmentCedar Rapids

Gregs ThomopulosStanley Consultants, Inc.Muscatine

Ken UrmieMidWestOne BankIowa City

Jeff Nock (Ex Officio)Goodwill of the Heartland

Goodwill Board of Directors 2010-2011

A F R E S H S T A R T

Customers Praise Harmon Harris for Great WorkGoodwill Helps Employee Find Job

Sometimes new starts are hard to find. That is especially true for

individuals who have had interactions with the law.

Harmon Harris of Cedar Rapids has been able to beat the odds and find a new start with the help of Goodwill of the Heartland. Harmon came to Goodwill through the Sixth Judicial District Drug Court program.

In the past year as Harmon worked to get his life back on track, he overcame a number of barriers including his criminal record, back and leg problems and diabetes.

Since joining Goodwill through the Drug Court program, Harmon diligently has worked with his Goodwill counselor to find ways to grow. He has

been punctual and willing to work within the program.

Even when he struggled to find places that would just let him complete an application, he did not get discouraged.

Working with Goodwill, Harmon found stable employment and gained confidence in his abilities to be independent. He has been working for several months at Taco Bell in Cedar Rapids.

He wondered if he would be able to keep his new job at Taco Bell because he could not afford to meet the dress code requirement to start the job. Fortunately, working with Brooks Booker Fund at Goodwill, Harmon bought work clothes.

Harmon since has been identified by his store manager as an excellent customer service role model. Taco Bell has received service cards from consumers who positively recognized Harmon.

Good things are happening in Harmon’s life. He has a job and joined the YMCA where he can work on his leg and back problems. He also is getting his diabetes under control.

As he moves ahead with his new life, Harmon is on track to graduate the Drug Court program in the coming months.

Harmon will tell you that Goodwill had faith in him when others didn’t. If not for the help provided by Goodwill, Harmon would not be where he is today.Harmon Harris offers excellent customer service.

Taking care of the wet laundry recently went from an annoying chore to an almost “fun” task

for clients in Goodwill’s Day Habilitation Program in Cedar Rapids. The clients are using a new combination washer/dryer unit that was purchased with a grant awarded by the Alliant Energy Foundation.

Goodwill uses the efficient washer/dryer as one of its tools for teaching daily living skills to clients enrolled in the Day Habilitation Program at the Cedar Rapids Center.

The Day Habilitation Program encourages individuals with chronic mental illness to make their own choices, interact socially and develop their communication and interpersonal skills through community-based activities.

Carli Willis loads the new washer/dryer, made possible with an

Alliant Energy Foundation Grant.

Laundry Duty OffersLearning Exercise