“Goodwill helped me climb out of desperation and into a new world. I want to help others along that same path and this is a perfect way for me to do that.”
In early 2019, Davina Kerrelola was doing everything she could to escape an abusive relationship in California, while trying to build a better life for her and her seven year-old son. The road was not easy as circumstances forced her to live in her car for long stretches. Undaunted, Davina had the fortitude to better herself during this challenging period. She completed a college degree in sociology, and became the proud co-author of a children’s book.
Life was hard but the progress she had made convinced her there were better things ahead. Knowing she had to permanently break free of the precarious situation, Davina made the brave decision to leave California with her son and come to Tacoma to live with her friend and co-author. A new life had begun.
Initially, things did not go as planned for Davina, as she was unable to land a full-time job and had difficulty securing financial support. Once again, Davina persevered. After explaining her situation to a counselor at DSHS Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Davina received the much-needed financial help and a referral to Goodwill’s Community Jobs program that helps people transition from public assistance into employment.
At Goodwill, Davina took financial literacy classes, attended several HIRE 253 job fairs and embarked on an internship where she helped to manage Goodwill’s Basic Food Employment and Training program.
Witnessing firsthand the compassionate support and service offered by Goodwill to help people in need, Davina decided she wanted her career to focus on serving others. She quickly landed her dream job – staying with Goodwill to run the Job Resource Room at the Milgard Work Opportunity Center in Tacoma.
Today, Davina assists hundreds of people each month, connecting them to community resources, conducting job searches, or helping them pursue career opportunities through Goodwill training programs.
