Kendrick Raley – Goodwill Works!

Kendrick always knew his path to independence would look different than those around him. He was born with retinopathy of prematurity – a relatively rare condition seen in premature infants. The condition led to Kendrick braving eye surgeries from an early age in a fight to combat severe visual impairment and sometimes left him feeling isolated.

That feeling began to change one summer when Kendrick first visited Camp Leo, a summer camp in South Carolina for visually impaired children. At camp he discovered an unmistakable sense of belonging, and his confidence to take on life’s challenges began to grow.

In 2018, life served up a challenge Kendrick was not expecting: he was let go from his steady job of 13 years. His primary concern was how he would provide for his young son. Kendrick recalls, “To get back out there and try to start over and try to make people accept you for the disability you have is not something you really want to do, but something you have to do.”

Feeling at a low and challenged to keep his independence, Kendrick tapped into his reslience and determination. He took a bold step in a new direction when he connected with Palmetto Goodwill for employment assistance. Armed with his career navigator, a revamped resume, and training, Kendrick applied for multiple jobs – but it was hard for some employers to see him as the man he is beyond his visual impairment.

Kendrick ultimately discovered meaningful employment at Charleston’s Naval Weapons Station in a role that allows him to provide for his son. Life has come full circle, and he still attends Camp Leo – only now as a camp counselor. For Kendrick, the reward of sharing his knowledge and lessons on resilience is
priceless.