When Michael came to Neighborhood Thrift in 2022, he says that he was at the lowest point in his life, and wasn’t sure he was going to make it out. His family had been broken by addiction and substance abuse, and he became the sole provider for his three children. He didn’t have a paycheck coming in, and he was struggling to meet his family’s needs. Michael says that if he was ever going to make it through this storm, he needed a lot of help and support, which he found through his connection to a meaningful personal faith and the people he met at Neighborhood Industries.

Michael works as a Retail Assistant, helping to stock the merchandise racks and shelves on the sales floor. He had some retail warehousing experience, but hadn’t worked on a sales floor, so it took a lot of practice to learn where everything should go. He says he constantly doubted himself and questioned whether he belonged, but that his coworkers and managers kept encouraging him on his growth and progress. A couple of coworkers were eager to help Michael figure out his job, and he got support to make healthier choices for his life, deciding to quit smoking for good. He worked hard to get his driver’s license in March 2024, and shortly after, was able to purchase his own car. According to Michael, these everyday, positive interactions with his coworkers and case managers are what allowed him to experience so much growth in his life, and begin to believe in his ability to grow through challenges.

After completing his time in Pathways to Employment, Michael was shocked to be offered a permanent job at Neighborhood Thrift. Today, Michael views life with a perspective that willingly embraces change and sees life as a continual journey toward growth. “I never thought I was going to have all this,” he says. “I love life so much now that I’m a changed man. My kids are taken care of, and I can encourage my wife in her journey because of my own experience.”

Hermalinda came to Neighborhood Thrift as a referral through CalWORKS/Welfare to Work in 2019. She had never had a job before, and felt excited at the prospect of trying something new as a Production Assistant in the Neighborhood Thrift warehouse. She was eager to learn everything she could. As she was mastering one skill, she would get the opportunity to learn another. She learned to work in production, as well as merchandising and cashiering. This broad experience helped her to feel prepared for her recent promotion to Production Specialist.

As a Production Specialist, Hermalinda leads a team of Production Assistants in meeting daily production goals to help keep the store running smoothly. Her experience as a mother of six, as well as her own experience as a Production Assistant, allows her to lead her team with patience and empathy. Hermalinda says, “I try to create an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions–even if they’ve asked me the same question before. I know what it feels like to be learning something new, so I don’t want them to be afraid to ask for help. If you learn to work with other people, to listen to their requests for help and be willing to help, you can make it a good experience for them to be here. And you can create a supportive environment that helps everyone on your team succeed.” She says that being able to do this makes her feel proud of her team and herself, for being able to come together to do their jobs well.

In August 2024, Hermalinda got her driver’s license. She says that if it hadn’t been for the support and encouragement of Social Services Director Addie Carr, she wouldn’t have had the courage to do it. Addie helped her study, practiced driving with her, and went with her to the DMV to take the test. Hermalinda says she felt so nervous, she didn’t think she’d be able to go through with it, but having Addie there to calmly remind her of everything she had learned helped to steady her. When she found out she passed, Hermalinda says she was so excited she almost jumped for joy. She had started studying for this test five years ago, and could hardly believe she had finally achieved a goal that had scared her so much.

She says that her next goal is getting her GED, in the hopes of one day becoming a preschool teacher. Hermalinda says, “Everything you do, it has a reward at the end of the road. For me, I like challenges because I think I am capable of meeting those challenges.”

Amy came to Pathways to Employment in August 2023. Several months before that, she had made the decision to remove herself and her seven children from a home environment stuck in a cycle of domestic violence and addiction. She found temporary housing through another community organization, but needed to find a job that could help provide a stable home for her family. Her job as a retail associate at Neighborhood Thrift provided her with opportunities to address her barriers to employment, earn a paycheck and work through some of the challenging patterns she had been struggling to overcome in her personal life.

Amy says that the biggest growth experiences in her time at Neighborhood Thrift have centered around learning to use her voice and face her fears. She acknowledges that when she came to Pathways to Employment, she was scared by the unfamiliar situation: it was only the second job she had ever held, and she had become the sole provider in her family. But it was also a place where everyone seemed to normalize talking about their fears, so that Amy felt comfortable acknowledging the aspects of the job that challenged or scared her, as well as getting support from her coworkers in overcoming her fears at work and at home.

In August 2024, Amy was finally able to move her family into their own home, and she is almost a year into her sobriety journey. Amy recognizes how far she has come in the past year, saying that for her, “success means not giving up, and choosing to continue to move forward and grow.” Her next goal for herself is to get her driver’s license.

Armando hit rock bottom in 2016 when he was laid off from the production line job he had held for over 25 years. Without a regular paycheck coming in, he soon found himself without a place to live, and became homeless for around a year and a half. Two years ago, Armando first got connected with Neighborhood Industries’ now defunct “Neighborhood Street Cleanup” program, which specifically served people experiencing homelessness who were trying to find a way into the workforce. Through a contract with the City of Fresno, the Street Cleanup team provided litter abatement, trashcan maintenance, pressure washing and alleyway cleanup in Fresno’sTower District neighborhood.

Armando was determined to complete every task he was given to the best of his abilities each day. His determination and curiosity made him a natural fit for Neighborhood Thrift, where he works in the warehouse, receiving donations, doing furniture carry-outs, pricing and sorting clothes, and sometimes helping on delivery trucks. Since starting this position, he has completed his forklift certification, and says that someday he would like to be a lead, so that he can be challenged.

With the help of Neighborhood Industries' case management staff, Armando secured permanent housing in January 2024. He says the help he received here was unlike anything he’d experienced before, and he wouldn’t have been able to get back on his feet without that support. Armando says, “I’m just super excited to be here and help out as much as I can, where I can, and give customers the best experience possible.”

Saul's journey with Neighborhood Industries is a testament to the power of dedication and opportunity. Starting as a Pathways to Employment participant six years ago, Saul's hard work and growth propelled him to become the Neighborhood Street Cleanup Program Supervisor. Today, he serves as the Facilities Manager, playing a crucial role in our operations.

Saul cherishes the relationships he's built with employees and customers. Reflecting on his personal growth, he shares, "Whatever I put my mind and heart to, I will accomplish it."

Saul is a valued team member who ensures everyone feels seen and appreciated. He deeply understands the transformative power of employment, saying, "Employment will help a person feel valued, receiving a paycheck at the end of the week makes a person feel good about themselves." Saul's story highlights the life-changing impact of the opportunities provided by Neighborhood Industries.

Ro didn't see herself staying long when she started the Pathways to Employment program at Neighborhood Thrift in 2018. Now she likes to remind people, "If I can go from where I was to where I am, anyone can do it."

In Pathways to Employment, she struggled with consistent attendance and laughs when she recalls the conversation that made her turn thinks around. "It should have been obvious," she says. "but I had to decide to show up."

She was permanently hired in 2019. Her natural curiosity and problem-solving skills made her a resource people could turn to for guidance and support. She became an invaluable asset, taking on a leadership role in he pandemic-era Fresno Cares Program and offering insight for new employees as a Pathway Navigator. She volunteered to participate in the Rework the Bay Job Quality Project, interviewing co-workers and compiling responses for a research project aimed at improving conditions for low-wage workers and creating pathways for quality jobs across California.

Ro's promotion to production lead in 2023 seemed like a natural next step, with her experience allowing her to bring vital understanding, empathy, and respect to her interactions with the people she manages.

David was one of the first hires for Neighborhood Thrift, and has been with us through 16 years of growth.

After going through some difficult times with his family, David was in need of work and took a job in the Neighborhood Thrift warehouse. As he gained. experience in warehouse operations, it made sense to make David a crucial member of the Neighborhood Recycling team, and to promote him to become our Logistics Manager, where he keeps our trucks on the road, and helps manage warehouse staff to keep all recycling operations running smoothly.

As a manager, David combines his efficient work ethic with a sense of humor and demonstrates what it looks like to fight for the person standing next to you.