Goodwill Manasota: Caring for Its Own amid COVID-19

The COVID-19 crisis pummeled Goodwill Manasota.

The agency’s core mission is to provide education, training, and career services—as well as jobs—so those with barriers to employment can feel the pride of a paycheck and move toward financial stability. But the coronavirus forced Goodwill to furlough over 600 team members across four counties, including 336 who live or work in Sarasota County. “Having to furlough 85% of our workforce during this crisis [was] the most heartbreaking action I've had to take over the course of my 48-year career,” said CEO Bob Rosinsky.

One of Rosinsky's and Goodwill’s biggest concerns became taking care of those who’d been furloughed. Many team members have a disadvantaging condition or disability. On the job, every employee is assigned a GoodPartner Coach, who mentors team members to set and achieve career and life goals for themselves and their families. But the Coaches had been furloughed too.

A $33,700 grant from Gulf Coast's COVID-19 Response Initiative helped Goodwill quickly hire back five GoodPartner Coaches, who began working immediately to connect with their furloughed Sarasota-area teammates. Besides a familiar voice, the Coaches provide navigation and support to those who need help with things like unemployment assistance, food, housing, and healthcare. One of those GoodPartner Coaches is Shirley, and one of her success stories is Bill. 

A Voice of Comfort

Bill is an older worker who had no transportation other than his bike. There is a Goodwill Donation Center near the apartment he rents, and he began working there in February.

Bill liked his new job and everything was going well—until COVID-19. Like hundreds of his colleagues, Bill had to go on furlough. And without much time off accrued, he didn’t know how he would eat or pay his rent.

Goodwill had provided him directions for applying online for reemployment benefits. But a week later, he received a notice that he wouldn’t be eligible for these benefits. This didn’t make sense to Bill, because he knew he was eligible. Then he heard about many other people who had a similar experience after applying. In the meantime, his cupboards were empty, the rent payment was overdue, and Bill was running very low on a medication he needed to take.

That’s when Shirley, one of Goodwill’s GoodPartner Coaches, called unexpectedly. Bill was elated. He told Shirley about his problem with reemployment. He also told her he was behind on rent and didn’t know how he was going to refill his medication.

Bill and Shirley spent three hours on the phone working to register Bill with Employ Florida. Once the registration was complete, his status changed from “ineligible” to “pending.” Next, Shirley assisted him  with successfully requesting Season of Sharing funds through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for his rent payment. The last hurdle was getting his medication refilled. Shirley advised Bill to contact his pharmacy and ask if they could assist him. He phoned her back within minutes, sharing that the pharmacy said it would cover this month’s prescription!

With Shirley’s coaching and help, Bill quickly secured the resources he had been worried about and frustrated by for a month. On top of that, Bill just returned to his job this week now that Goodwill is safely reopening its facilities.