Special to the American
With so many others competing for employment in a struggling economy, it’s no surprise that older individuals encounter increased barriers in their efforts to find work. That is exactly when Dorothy Cooksey entered MERS/Goodwill.
The organization, known for its thrift stores, also finds work for some of the hardest-to-place individuals in the state. Each year, MERS/Goodwill provides job placement services to thousands of individuals in bi-state Missouri and southwestern Illinois.
And while some programs are formatted for individuals with a disability or lack of job experience, all types of people, including retirees, have utilized the organization as a resource to find work.
The receptionist at the St. Charles MERS/Goodwill Career Center can testify to the struggles of finding a job as an older individual.
“People just laughed at me,” said 79 year-old, Rachel Rico.
But with the help of Goodwill’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), available to individuals 55 years and older, Rachel was granted paid on-the-job training and work experience at the St. Charles offices.
Another MERS/Goodwill client, 64-year-old Dorothy Cooksey, was more than capable of finding a job with an impressive resume and strong background as head secretary to Washington University Medical School’s Director of Radiology.
Still, after retiring from Wash. U. in 1998, she soon discovered that she could not live off of just her 401K and social security. After almost nine years of working off-and-on due to health problems, she was forced to seek other resources to help her find a job that would fit what she needed.
In November 2007, Cooksey was referred to the Lippman Center, a MERS/Goodwill Career Center on South Hanley, and immediately began working with caseworker Susan Meyer.
The timing of this relationship was perfect since the economy was beginning its downward spiral. Despite her strong administrative and customer service background, Susan recommended Dorothy for the job-readiness training classes with instructor, Elaine Ellis. Dorothy described the class “like group therapy.”
Cooksey said, “Elaine kept stressing that ‘we are getting you ready. Yes, the job market is bleak, but when you go out and look for a job, you will know how to present yourself and you’ll be in a better position to get a job as opposed to those who are looking on their own.’”
In March 2008, Cooksey attended a job fair she saw advertised at the Lippman Center. A week after filling out a career-fair application for a dietary aid position at the Northgate Park Senior Living Community, she was called, interviewed and hired.
“After my classes at MERS/Goodwill, I felt re-energized and I regained my self confidence, which is hard to have when you hear so many ‘no’s’ or when you hear nothing at all,” Cooksey said.
As for that paycheck, she said she is no longer feeling the stress on her pocketbook: “At my age, sometimes I’d like to get a new pair of shoes or a new dress, and I want to build up my savings again.”
MERS/Goodwill is a non-profit agency that provides for the vocational needs of individuals who have barriers to employment through disability or economic disadvantage. It operates 22 rehabilitation centers serving more than 10,000 people from 50 counties in the bi-state region. Revenues from 39 Goodwill stores assist with funding MERS/Goodwill job training and employment services.
For more information about MERS/Goodwill’s many programs or to find a Goodwill donation point near you, call (314) 241-3464 or visit www.mersgoodwill.org.
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