It's Never Too Late: How Goodwill Acadiana Changes Lives

Every time you shop with us or drop off a donation, something bigger happens. That bag of clothes or that afternoon of thrifting helps fund real second chances for your neighbors right here in Acadiana.

Take our HiSET program for example. It helps adults earn their high school diplomas, no matter what got in the way the first time around. Some students finish in two days. Others take two years. We meet people where they are, because the goal isn't speed. It's opening a door that leads somewhere better.

This July, that door opened for three real people in your community. Meet Alexus, Marq, and Jodi, and see what your support made possible.

Meet Alexus

One of our recent HiSET graduates is a young mom supporting her children! Alexus dropped out of high school to get a job, as she thought it was better than going to school. Now that she has two kids to support, she was motivated to go back and get her HiSET.

She passed all of her tests with extremely high scores and is going to South Louisiana Community College this fall to pursue phlebotomy then nursing. To make things even better, she's crossing the graduation stage in December with her boyfriend, who's graduating in HVAC!

Her message to others is, "Keep going. Never give up."

She has such a kind and gentle soul and we're so proud of her! We're here to support her the whole way- this isn't the end of her journey!

Meet Marq

Another one of our graduates is a young man making his own path!

Marq was a self-proclaimed troublemaker in school, causing him to drop out in the 10th grade and enroll in the Louisiana National Guard's Youth Challenge Program. He realized the military lifestyle wasn't for him and bounced around to various jobs and cities to make ends meet.

He recently moved back to Lafayette and enrolled in our HiSET program, passing all of our tests within ONE month! Now, he's going off to trade school to pursue an HVAC or welding program, with the goal of running his own business one day.

He's excited about the future ahead and is extremely thankful for his family's support.

His message to others is, "Stay on the right track, stay focused, and don't let your emotions overwhelm you and stop you from what you're doing."

Marq has such a bright future ahead of him! We're so proud of him, and we can't wait to see what he does next!

Meet Jodi

Lastly, but certainly not least, let us meet a woman who regained her life and wants to help others do the same!

Jodi dropped out of school in 9th grade to have her first child and get married. She started struggling with drug use at 18, and she'd sadly lose bother her husband and second-born in sudden ways.

She moved around to many sober living homes trying to get clean, and once she found the Oxford House of Louisiana, she was able to get sober and travel to show others life after addiction. Now she's proudly 3 years sober!

Since then, she started working in Behavioral Health to help others along the same journey she went through. To get the job she wanted, she needed her HiSET, and she joined our program to do just that.

Now that she's achieved her goal, she's pursuing her Peer Support license and additional certifications so she can one day work on the clinical side and "give back what was freely given to her."

She gives thanks to God for helping her overcome her obstacles, stating "It's God, sobriety, then everything else."

Jodi is a light and inspiration. She's a testament to what hard work can do and we're so proud of her!

The Takeaway

The next time you drop off a bag or browse our racks, remember what's behind it. These aren't just stories. They're lives you helped change. Alexus, Marq, and Jodi are proof of what your donations make possible, and they're just three of the neighbors you're impacting every day.

Join us in reducing poverty, restoring independence, and transforming lives across Acadiana. Donate or shop today and be part of the change!