Lonnie Welch was unemployed since March 2008, and he was very discouraged when he first came to Goodwill’s Job Connection serving the Lake region.

“I read about Goodwill’s services in the newspaper, and I went as a last resort. I had worked in a family business for over 10 years, and I was at a dead-end in trying to find a job,” explains Lonnie.

Lonnie was the first participant to attend all five work readiness training sessions at the Job Connection, and he received a Platinum certificate of achievement.

Lonnie said, “The training classes were so helpful, and I learned so much. I was so nervous when I went on an interview, and Goodwill’s employees worked with me on multiple occasions to improve my interviewing skills.”

Lonnie participated in a special Interviewing Skills Class at Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church (LOPC) on Feb. 15. Church volunteers practiced mock interviews with the Job Connection clients. During the class, Lonnie made quite an impression on church member Joanne Mittendorf, and she offered Lonnie a part-time job in lawn maintenance.

Lonnie feels that things began to look up for him in 2011.

He said, “My self-esteem was low because I had been out of work for so long, and it was so frustrating that I could not provide for my family. Lynn Hudson and Sylvica Lewis, employees of Goodwill’s Job Connection, helped me realize that I had a lot of skills to offer a prospective employer. They continually encouraged me with e-mails and phone calls and helped me to stay positive in my job search.”

Lonnie and his family had a big celebration on his birthday, March 5. This was a special celebration because Lonnie recently landed a second job with Attaway Waste in Eatonton. Lonnie has encouraged many of his friends to seek assistance at Goodwill’s Job Connection.

He states, “Goodwill’s training classes are excellent, and I would encourage anyone who is out of work to take advantage of this wonderful service in our community.”

If you or someone you know needs job training and placement assistance, please refer them to Goodwill’s Job Connection located at 1030 Lake Oconee Parkway. The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The telephone number is (706) 485-0244.

Community donations of clothing and household items are needed to underwrite services like those that helped Lonnie. Donations are accepted seven days per week at Goodwill’s convenient drive-through donation center adjacent to the Goodwill Retail Store and Job Connection. Receipts are provided for tax purposes.