same struggles she had . Cosner was hired as an economic service caseworker at the Fairmont Department of Health and Human Resources office and in 2023 was promoted to senior economic service caseworker . She left SPOKES with a career , and she continues to celebrate her recovery and is able to look at herself and see how she has accomplished it all .
Goodwill Paid Training
By Jamon Schmidt Goodwill Industries of Kanawha Valley , Inc . Content Manager
Dustin McDonald grew up in Richie County where he would travel back and forth from Parkersburg to visit his mother and siblings . Growing up with his aunt and uncle , he was the only kid in the household . At 16 , he became a father and made the decision to drop out of school to take care of his new family . When his aunt passed away in 2015 , McDonald fell into an addiction that would change his life forever . After a divorce and losing custody of his children , he was left feeling hopeless and lived on the streets after selling everything he owned for drugs .
While in rehab in 2021 , McDonald was visited by representatives from Goodwill who talked to him about employment opportunities for individuals
Dustin McDonald .
in recovery .
At Goodwill , Dustin got a job at the Parkersburg store through Goodwill ’ s Paid Training Program . The 90-day program helps individuals get back
into the paid workforce while allowing them to rebuild or develop the necessary skills they need to succeed in today ’ s workforce .
As the program was nearing the 90-day mark , McDonald decided to fill out job applications after meeting again with Goodwill representatives . He received multiple job offers and took a position with Eagle Pointe Healthcare Center . Within one month of employment , he was able to get his own apartment and within two months , he obtained his own vehicle .
“ Goodwill helped me grow my confidence with all the support they offered ,” he says . “ They allowed me to be more comfortable in my own skin . It ’ s a big adjustment to go from the streets to normal society . Goodwill really helped me with that . Goodwill will give you the tools to better yourself — to have a better life .”
McDonald was recently hired to work at St . Joseph ’ s Recovery Center as a behavioral health technician . He will be helping individuals going through the same struggle that he went through . •
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