When walking in to order at the new dining hot spot, Blaze Pizza, one might not initially notice Chris. The quiet 23-year-old employee is focused entirely on making dough for the day’s orders. He keeps his head down and works hard. Some might find this work repetitive and dull, but not Chris. The task brings him comfort. His job gives him purpose.
Chris started his pursuit for employment in February 2015. He had never held a paying job before but was volunteering at several businesses to learn the skills needed. He wanted to find a job, but he faced several barriers that could impede his opportunities. Chris has severe social anxiety and does not feel comfortable interacting with people he doesn’t know well. This made it difficult for him to open up to hiring managers during interviews. He struggled with communicating who he is and the depth of his work ethic.
Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services referred Chris to the services at Goodwill of Central Iowa. Chris enrolled in the Supported Employment program, which provides personalized assistance to individuals with disabilities. He worked with a career specialist to understand his abilities and they figured out what jobs would work best for him. After several months, Chris earned employment as a dishwasher.
During this time, he began participating in Goodwill’s Discovery program. Through this, Chris engaged in activities like shelving books at the Central Library, entering data with Iowa Workforce Development, and performing quality control at a Goodwill retail store. This process allowed Chris’s support team to hone in on his strengths and abilities. They learned that he is most effective when a job requires repetition. At the same time, Chris’s support team discovered his potential to excel beyond the typical stocking, dishwashing and production positions that require little interaction with others.
Chris was enjoying his job as a dishwasher but felt the need for a change and wanted to find a position that better suited him. He needed a job that would allow him to work more independently and at his own pace. When he shared this with his career specialist, she had an idea.
Having previously placed a program participant at Blaze Pizza, she inquired about open positions with General Manager Robert O’Brien. When Robert described the dough maker position, she knew it was a perfect fit for Chris’s abilities and temperament. Chris put in an application with her help and he was called in for an interview. With the skills he learned from his support team, he was able to effectively communicate how he could be an asset to the organization.
O’Brien knew what employment means to individuals with disabilities, and he was aware of their potential that can be often overlooked. He shared it was a no brainer for him to hire Chris.
Once Chris started, he quickly mastered the job.
“We’ve had to show him how to do some tasks a few times. It’s something that anybody else would have been told five or six times. It took Chris twice,” said Robert.
He also noted how Chris often shows up an hour early to work because of how committed he is to his role.
The position with Blaze Pizza is one of the top paying roles in the restaurant. Without great quality dough, the meal will have no foundation. The position and its responsibility mean a lot to Chris and his family.
“He’s very happy and excited to go in to work every day, and that makes me feel very happy too,” said his mother, Marie.
Chris has been excelling at his job so much that he now needs much less oversight from his Goodwill job coach. His mother has said that she can tell a difference in Chris’s demeanor. He’s more talkative and has a newfound confidence.
“I’d like to thank Goodwill for all the work they do for people with disabilities,” said Marie. “They do so much to help people like Christopher and tons of other people in the community.”
When you donate and shop at Goodwill of Central Iowa, you make successes like Chris’s possible. In fact, 85 cents of every dollar earned in our retail stores and through Shopgoodwill.com goes to support our mission of improving the quality of life for all individuals by providing skills training and helping people find jobs. Find the location closest to you or make a monetary contribution today.
