April 30, 2005 in HandleX

Awards handed out at Goodwill banquet

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Kathy Plonka photo

John Mullen, who works as a deliveryman for Goodwill, won Goodwill’s Graduate of the Year award.
(Full-size photo)

It has been a long, hard road for Colville Confederated Tribe member John Mullen.

“I have been totally clean two years and two months, and it is still hard, every day,” Mullen says. “There are so many people who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”

Mullen recently received the 2005 Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest Graduate of the Year award at the company’s annual banquet. Goodwill Coeur d’Alene employee Sharon Bigger received the 2005 Independence Award, and Pinewood Care Center was recognized as an employer that is committed to hiring individuals with disabilities.

Mullen says he is not sure that he deserves the Graduate of the Year award, but Coeur d’Alene Goodwill Facility Manager Tracie Olin heartily disagrees. Olin hired Mullen after Goodwill’s Job Development and Rehabilitation Program referred him to the Goodwill store at 1212 N. Fourth St.

Mullen, a Goodwill material handler, has worked in all of the store’s departments since he was hired in 2002. Mullen, who is almost 40 years old, had never lived off the reservation, nor had he held a steady job prior to his employment at Goodwill.

“I nominated John because of his determination to learn new skills and because he follows through with whatever needs to be done. John’s initiative to go beyond what was required of him meant our transportation department was able to continue to run efficiently at a time when we were short-staffed,” Olin says.

The Graduate of the Year award recognizes an individual who has successfully completed one or more programs or services at Goodwill and has gone on to employment on his/her own. The award winner must have been employed for at least six months at the time of nomination.

GIIN was established in 1939 and helps people with disabilities and disadvantages build independence. In 2004 the agency served approximately 2,800 individuals. Both nationally and regionally, Goodwill is recognized for wise stewardship of its resources, consistently receiving top rankings from watchdog groups and publications.

Mullen was using drugs when his mom died four years ago of cirrhosis of the liver.

“I took care of her while she was sick. After she died, I felt very guilty because she said she would stop abusing if I would – I never did,” Mullen says.

“I started drugs again and even tried suicide after I buried her,” Mullen says.

After being admitted to Kootenai Medical Center’s psychiatric ward, Mullen eventually found himself at Port of Hope, a Coeur d’Alene substance abuse center.

He still visits the people he grew attached to at Port of Hope and is quick to thank them with saving his life.

“I am so thankful that they never gave up on me.”

The stress of adapting to a very different culture as well as to a working environment proved very challenging to him. He told his supervisor that he felt “out of place” and “different” from the other workers.

Mullen was given a chance primarily through one-on-one counseling. While his issues have not disappeared overnight, he has evolved into a strong employee proving he could “fit in” and succeed.

Mullen has had to change his previous life’s patterns in order to stay well.

“I don’t see my family much, so Goodwill is like family to me,” Mullen says.

Now Mullen looks forward to coming to work every day. “I like working here better than the life I had before,” Mullen says.

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The Independence Award, according to Diane Galloway, GIIN public relations manager, recognizes the efforts and success of a person in overcoming barriers to self-sufficiency.

“Those barriers can be physical, mental or emotional challenges, lack of work skills/history, behavioral issues such as overcoming substance abuse, criminal background, or reliance on public assistance,” says Galloway.

Sharon Bigger used to work as an aerospace quality control officer in Southern California many years ago. After a series of life tragedies that included the death of a close family member and unemployment, Bigger found herself facing major depression – unable to function effectively in the workplace. She had major physical challenges and mental impairments to overcome.

“I was very comfortable staying inside my house, never going out, because I unable to interact with people,” Bigger says.

Today Bigger is employed as the receptionist at Goodwill’s Lake City Workforce Development and Social Services office. When people come to the social services office for help, Bigger is known to extend empathetic warmth and understanding.

“As her confidence has grown,” says Vocational Program Manager Nancy Wiltshire, “she has taken on more and more additional job duties, often at her own initiative. Her newly won confidence and dedication to her job have made her an invaluable member of the team.”

Bigger wants people to know that resources are available to help, even if a person feels like “just giving up.”

“If I can regain my self-esteem and beat the depression, then I think that anyone can do the same,” Bigger said.

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Galloway says each year an employer, that does an outstanding job of hiring, training and promoting individuals with disabilities is recognized. This year Pinewood Care Center was honored because of its willingness to hire the disabled.

“It is important to know that employers don’t hire them just because they have disabilities or are less-qualified workers; they still have to compete and to perform successfully on the job,” Galloway says.

Wiltshire says that Pinewood has hired six or seven individuals with disabilities from Goodwill.

“Not all of them work out, just as it is in any workplace, but Pinewood Center has demonstrated a commitment to providing real opportunities – that is the essence of what this award recognizes,” Wiltshire says.

It is a win-win situation for both the employer and employee according to Shelly Frank, Pinewood’s director.

“Goodwill Industries refers employees to us that are willing to learn and become part of our team that keeps Pinewood Care Center running efficiently.”

John Mullen and Sharon Bigger’s advice to others who are facing challenging times is “not to give up – things do get better.”

“Most of the time, I look at the negatives in my life and not the positives, but without all these people, I would not be alive today,” Mullen says.

“I plan to keep going because I know that my mom is looking down at me with a smile. She is happy to know that booze and drugs don’t control my life anymore and they won’t be killing me anymore.”

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