Page 9 - Goodwill of the Finger Lakes Annual Report

Vision loss can greatly change the course of someone’s life and lead
to unexpected places. This was the case for Rick Yendall, who began
losing his vision in 2015 due to Glaucoma. Soon, he learned about
ABVI (now Goodwill Vision Enterprises) and began receiving Vision
Rehabilitation and Mobility Training from our Vision Services team.
Rick learned how to use JAWS, a computer screen reader program,
but eventually had to leave his job as a project manager in production
due to his vision loss.
COVID quickly put life on pause, then after things started getting back
to normal, Rick wanted to go back to work to set a positive example
for his son. “My son is 12 years old. I thought it was important for him
to see me going to work every day,” says Rick. That was when Joette,
the Career Development Specialist here at Goodwill, helped him fill
out a job application to our Manufacturing Division.
Rick now works in our Sewing Department, where employees produce
uniform pants, utility bags, and other textile products. “There are a
lot of guides on the equipment we use,” says Rick, “I’ve never sewn
before, but they give us good training. As long as everything is oriented
properly, it is pretty easy!”

“My son is Being blind or visually impaired, it’s easy to feel isolated, but Rick has
found a sense of community at Goodwill. “It’s not so much the work,

12 years old. it’s the job that’s important,” says Rick, “I work with a lot of people

I thought it was who are in the same boat as me, and we compare notes.”
important for him Goodwill

to see me going Storytelling

to work every day”

Rick Yendall lifting barriers elevates people!

During the 12 years that Brent Richardson has been with Goodwill of
the Finger Lakes, he has held many different positions and developed
new skills, he is currently Production Worker II in our Manufacturing
Department. “Goodwill has all the resources to provide me if I need
help,” says Brent, who is deaf and legally blind. “What’s so nice about
working at Goodwill is that people know I’m blind, so they let me
know where the objects are and keep spaces clean. They also always
provide ASL interpreters during longer meetings.”

Brent continues to grow and thrive. He is working towards a promotion
soon to Team Lead within the Manufacturing Department. He has
taken on new responsibilities such as training people, monitoring
“Goodwill has all the sales and production progress, providing customer service, and

resources to provide developing new systems and strategies.

me if I need help” Brent is also a talented Graphic Designer and Goodwill contracts with
him to utilize his skills. “I have been creating signs, banners, logos,
Brent Richardson invitation flyers, donation flyers, posters and many more,” says Brent.
“I have come a long way and I’m happy where I am right now. I wanted
to thank you all for giving me that opportunity, and any other future
opportunities,” says Brent.