For 25 years, Beatrice People has been a familiar and welcoming face at Goodwill of Central Alabama. Today, you can find her greeting donors at our Air Base Blvd location.
Beatrice is very open about her journey. When Beatrice came to work for Goodwill, she was on welfare and looking for an opportunity to earn her own income, build independence and create a future for herself.
For some time, Beatrice had a family member stealing money from her pay checks. This almost made her lose her home. Beatrice faced challenges that not only threatened her financially, but also her mental health. When Beatrice needed support, our head of Mission Services was there to help. Goodwill’s Mission Services team connected her with resources to protect her income and helped her access health and wellness services.
She credits Goodwill for helping her get through her tough times, but we know that Beatrice’s hard work and determination are what really got her through. We are so proud of all she has accomplished. Twenty-five years later, Beatrice continues to come to work, with a smile, at a job that means so much to her.
Goodwill means a lot to me. Without Goodwill I would be homeless. Goodwill is my family. Growing up, everyone made fun of me and put me down because of the way I am. Working at Goodwill makes me happy.