In Mexico, Brenda had a good job as a Production Analyst working for a major logistics company. She fled to the United States and applied for asylum because of the violence in Mexico. In the United States, Brenda struggled to find work. She didn’t speak English and had only $25 in her pocket, but sold tamales door-to-door and worked at shopping mall kiosks to get by. It was a tough time in her life.
After a family tragedy, she needed to stay busy and wanted to find meaningful work. Her husband’s manager suggested that she apply for an open position at a Goodwill Houston donation center. It was a job that allowed her to heal while providing for her family.
She significantly improved her English skills in order to answer the phone and talk to donors and customers. With a steady job, she was eligible to receive a green card — allowing Brenda to stay in the United States permanently. Eventually she was promoted to Assistant Manager and then to a Donation Center Supervisor for over a dozen locations. Today, Brenda is Goodwill Houston’s Salvage Coordinator, a salaried position managing material from outlet locations across Houston and ensuring that Goodwill does the most good with every donation.
Photo: Goodwill Industries of Houston