The Goodwill Kentucky’s Another Way Program offers a new path for unhoused Kentuckians

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – For many homeless Kentuckians in Bowling Green, a second chance is easy to obtain, but Goodwill Kentucky is creating a path for unhoused people.

The organization’s Another Way Program has leaders who go to homeless shelters, street corners and highways to give people the opportunity to work.

One individual was introduced to the program after her life changed drastically.

Amber Grimes, an Another Way participant says, “ I got my own place, and then, I had my first son at 24. And when he was three, they took him for me. And I lost all hope. I fell off the deep end and started living on the streets. And then I fell pregnant. And I was just kind of, like, on my own. I was completely alone for a long time.”

Grimes made a call to a leader at Goodwill when she was homeless in a tent. She called someone that she could relate to and said he didn’t judge her. He showed through his experience what was possible.

Kristopher York, the Another Way Program outreach specialist, says, “So when I got out of incarceration, I was homeless. I had nowhere to go. And if it wasn’t for programs like this to help me get back on my feet and kind of make me feel like a human again, then I probably would’ve never got sober, and I probably never would have went to sober living, and I probably never would have changed my life. “

Connecting people to resources and the right people can make a massive difference, and with the work that Grimes put in ultimately changed her life for the better.

Grimes shares, “I mean, it’s great. Have my own apartment, and me and my child and his father live there, and my other son comes to us every weekend. He actually just spent the whole week with us because he was out of school, and I didn’t ever think I would have that back in my life.”

Grimes is one of 168 participants in the another way program, and the success comes from the drive that the individual has.

York says, “I’m so grateful for people like Amber and their success because a lot of people think it’s goodwill or it’s this, but no, they put in the action to do that. They got up in the morning and they made the decision to do what to do. So it’s really about the people. If we can just show love and kindness and let people know that they are still loved, we can make a huge difference in our community with god.”

If you are interested in learning about the different programs offered by Goodwill, contact the Goodwill Opportunity Center in Bowling Green.