What’s Good with Goodwill?
It’s summer time and there are children everywhere! Goodwill has recently had the pleasure of
hosting various youth groups at our different locations. It began the last week of school when
the Caldwell Elementary first graders came to visit the adminstration office during their tour of
downtown Tyler. Students and teachers learned how Goodwill began, saw a video game
creation at our Goodtech Academy, and got a behind the scenes view of a Goodwill store. It was
a pleasure having them with us.
Then, there were the youth volunteers of Trinity Lutheran Church. They gave their time to give
the patio at the administration office a new look! Finally, South Springs Baptist Church students
put in some heavy lifting as they served at the South Tyler Super Store and Mission Services
office.
It’s not too late to get your teen up and moving! YouthWorks Academy is accepting applications
for the 6 week paid training program. Call Darleen Staley at 903-581-5422 for more information.
Summer Happenings at Goodwill!
Ed Vazquez
The Wheel to Overcome
Believe it or not, Ed Vazquez’s journey to Goodwill began around age 10. By then, he was
already stealing and hanging out with a gang. At age11, he was left paralyzed after being struck
by a driver who ran a stop light. But, Ed did not let a wheelchair stop him. He saw a way to
make fast money and by age 15, he was selling drugs. Only 6 years later at age 21, he found
himself in prison.
After 10 years, Ed said he returned home with nothing. While incarcerated, he worked to pay all
of his fees, so he didn’t owe the state any money. However, he was still on “supervised release”.
Although a friend helped him get a job at a game room, it wasn’t enough. During the 10 years of
serving his time, he’d decided that he wanted more for his life. He quickly realized that wanting it
and getting it were two very different things. He learned that getting a ‘good’ job would be far
more difficult with his criminal record, the supervised release, and a wheelchair.
At TWC, Ed found out about the DARS (Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services)
program. Through DARS, Ed enrolled in school to become a cell phone repair tech. Although
this was a step forward, Ed still felt down because he was unable to find work. Despite receiving
job placement assistance, he felt employers could not see beyond the wheelchair, fearing they’d
have to make special accommodations. Without a job for almost 2 years, Ed insisted to the
DARS worker that there must be another way. That is when he was introduced to the WAT
(Work Adjustment Training) program at Goodwill.
In the WAT program, managers worked with Ed to determine his limitations and his abilities. He
was trained in basic office skills, but soon realized that he didn’t like sitting alone answering
phones. Ed began working in production at the South Loop Retail store. After some time he was
moved to the sales floor. There he had the chance to use the communication skills he’d learned
in WAT. He realized he enjoyed the customer interaction and that made it easy for him to share
when asked how he ended up in a wheelchair and working at Goodwill.
Eventually, Ed was approached by Todd Potoczak with the Commercial Services Division about
transferring. Knowing that Commercial Services is where some of Goodwill’s more severely
disabled employees work, Ed says he was initially hesitant about the environment. However,
“the Monday through Friday schedule made the opportunity more attractive, ” said Ed.
He ultimately made the move to Commercial Services and has no regrets. He shared, “We all
have disabilities and we all help each other.” He said, “Goodwill gives a shot to all of us.”
After 3 years, Ed is still with Commercial Services as an assembler. However, his goal is to go to
school to become a counselor and work with the WAT program, so he can help others. He
knows that with Goodwill’s tuition reimbursement program, his goal is more than attainable.
Ed says, “ The community just thinks Goodwill has stores but they have NO idea about all the
services and how we help people.” Goodwill helped Ed move beyond his background and his
disability. He shared that he never wanted to be seen as a charity case. He just wanted the
opportunity to work. Ed said that he recommends to his friends who have been incarcerated to
come to Goodwill if they really want to work. If not, “don’t go. I don’t want you to make me look
bad.”
Community Partner
Need help to recertify for Medicaid? In need of food assistance? Join us Monday, July 31st for a
Community Resource Fair, hosted by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan in partnership with
Goodwill Industries of East Texas and the East Texas Food Bank. Come check out all the
resources, including school physicals and childcare assistance. Join us at St. Louis Baptist
Church from 10-1. Goodwill and UnitedHealthcare, united for good.
Meet a UHC agent at one of our 15 Stores
From the Desk of the SHE-EO
Meet President & CEO of Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Kimberly Lewis.
Keeping The Lights On
Guess what? It’s my 10-year Anniversary here at Goodwill Industries of East Texas and my 20th
year as a Goodwill Chief Executive Officer. It really doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. You
know what they say…”how time flies when you’re having fun.”
My work here at Goodwill continues to be fun and rewarding. I have the privilege of serving a
giving and caring community. I have the good fortune of working with a dedicated Board of
Directors and a loyal staff and most of all, I get to communicate with you all and in some cases,
serve with many of you in the community.
That’s really what I am writing about today – service and community engagement.
It’s summertime and we’ve been busy hosting groups of children touring our stores and offices
and completing volunteer projects for Goodwill. It’s never too soon to teach our youngsters
about the joys of service and giving back.
Having 60+ first graders (yes, that’s correct more than 60 first-graders) run through the halls of
our administrative building in Tyler a few weeks ago reminded me of my own childhood. I grew
up in a very community-minded household.
I was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina to parents who accepted a calling early on
to minister and to serve. My father was a pastor and my mother was the “first lady” of the Baptist
church where he served. Our home was always open to people traveling through the city or
those who needed a hot home-cooked meal and shower after staying up all night bedside with a
loved one in the hospital.
Our phone rang day and night. People called seeking guidance or a kind word. Some of them
knew my parents and others were just told of their kindness and told to give them a call. In fact,
we seemed to attract people in need. I remember late one Saturday night a woman came
banging frantically on our front door. It was nearly midnight and my father was still up working
on his sermon for the next morning. The loud banging on the door woke me up. The woman
was deaf and had been kidnapped as she walked home from the store. She was struggling to
communicate what had happened to her, so my dad gave her a glass of water to calm her
down, and a pen and paper to write down what she needed. She escaped her captors who had
her trapped in a van parked down the street. Fortunately, she was able to fight her way out
before they could do her further harm, and ran to the house with the lights still on – which was
our house.
My father called the police as my mother comforted her. Afterwards, I remember my parents
talking about how glad they were that she saw the lights on and could find refuge in our home.
That’s what YOU provide to the people we serve – REFUGE!
Your gift, no matter the size, helps to provide a safe, caring place for people to learn, work, and
find a better path for themselves.
The paths vary, from needing a certification in the technology field to secure a good-paying job,
to studying for their GED, to applying for food assistance, to finding a job following their exit
from prison, to developing the skills needed to run a successful business, to training and
working in a caring environment that accommodates their disability.
YOU, my friends, are the ones who keep the lights on as a sign of refuge and we thank you for
the support that you give all year long. I celebrate YOU on my Goodwill anniversary, because
YOU put the “Good” in my “will” and make it all worthwhile.
Kimberly B. Lewis
President and CEO
Spark Good
With Goodwill
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Get to know our Board of Directors
Beverly Russell, 2023-2024 Treasurer
Beverly Russell is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. After college at Howard University, she
attended Officer Training School and spent more than 13 years active duty in the Air Force
before transitioning to the reserve forces to attend law school. After 20 years as an attorney in
New York City, she and her husband retired and moved to Tyler in 2016. Since then, she has
been serving on boards and participating in other civic projects.
Beverly said that for her, Goodwill Industries is part of American life. She recalls the retail stores
in neighborhoods when she was growing up. Then, Goodwill was more so known as a place to
donate gently used items that were sold at an affordable price for lower income families. She
says that, alone, would have been reason enough to associate herself with an organization that
provides a practical resource and serves the community. She decided to serve on the board
when she became more familiar with the array of services and resources Goodwill provides
beyond the retail stores. She states “I wanted to be part of it, especially under the leadership of
Kim Lewis.” After meeting Ms. Lewis through another organization, she was impressed with her
leadership style and vision for the organization.
Beverly’s choice has been to serve on Boards that support people who are struggling with life’s
challenges. These nonprofits focused on meeting immediate needs and worked with individuals
and families to improve their lives and make sustainable changes.
When asked what part of Goodwill Industries of East Texas (GIET) she connected with most,
she shared that she connected with the mission of providing skills training and vocational
opportunities. She believes the value of a good education or training cannot be overstated. The
programs enable people to have dignity, be independent, support their families, and be a
contributing member of society.
Beverly has been serving on the board since December 2020 and stepped into a leadership role
as treasurer this term. She said that, “ A leadership role allows me to learn more about GIET
and provides me an opportunity to directly offer my professional knowledge and background as
another source of guidance and vision for the organization.”
To someone considering to offer time or resources to Goodwill, she said she would would talk to
them about the various programs and success rates of participants, because people want
to know that their time or resources are utilized wisely. When speaking to the mission, the
programs, the leadership, and the capable and talented staff accomplishing daily operations,
she said, ”I would assure them that their resources are being used to change the lives of the
people being served, a highly worthy cause.”