Meet Rodney, Meridian Goodwill Store Employee

Twenty years ago, Rodney was diagnosed with Cone Rod Dystrophy—a degenerative disease that causes the retina to deteriorate to the point of blindness. There is currently no treatment or cure for this disease. By age 35 he could no longer drive or operate heavy equipment, ending his construction career.

Rodney worked with the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for employment resources and skill development. For a while, he owned his own vending business, opened a restaurant, and then was a kitchen manager at an Boise area restaurant and bar. But, as a single dad of a teenager, he needed to prioritize his family—something that working in that environment didn’t allow.

Then, Rodney found Goodwill. The Meridian Goodwill store in Idaho has given him an opportunity to work and help build skills to try other positions. He is currently working as a part-time production associate and credits the management team with his success.

Rodney has expressed gratitude for the accommodations that have been made, and feels there are still more opportunities. He would tell anyone looking for a job, that Goodwill is a great place to apply and they will give you the opportunity to succeed.

“Management is great here. They even made the training sheets visually bigger so I was able to see. They understand my situation and still give me opportunities. It is team work all the time. The manager is really hands on and I respect his style of management. He is a motivator to myself and the team,” says Rodney.

Thank you, Rodney, for your dedication and hard work. You are an example to others.