On
an unusually balmy afternoon, Andre Lyons used his quiet charm, sense of humor
and deep affection for the mission of Goodwill to inspire a group of students
at Fort LeBoeuf High School to follow in his footsteps at the Summit Towne
store.
Andre
led a group of six students, grades 9 to 12, in the first tour of what promises
to become a staple for the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Following the two -and-one-half hour event, the students gave Andre a thumbs up
for showing them all facets of the Summit operation. Many excitedly told Andre
that they liked the hands-on experience they received.
Andre, Job Coach and Employment
Specialist, began his tour by sharing the history of Goodwill, discussing the
job responsibilities of team members and stressing the importance of teamwork
needed to accomplish the store’s operational goals. Accompanying him on the
tour was new employee, Angela Murosky, an instructor in Workforce Development.
Later,
students shared in writing their own definition of teamwork with such phrases
as, “Teamwork is a greater thing than being alone on a team,” and “One person
doesn’t make a team. More is what makes a team.”
Following the writing exercise, Andre
took the students outside to the front of the store and began to methodically
explain the donation process, starting with the donation boxes. Stepping back
inside the store, students met Katrina and learned about the Attended Donation
Center and the customer service required to provide donation receipts and carry
in boxes for donors.
Next stop was Textiles, at which
Andre explained the value of teamwork needed between production employees Tasha
and Tia to sort, tag, and hang the clothes properly on the racks for eventual
merchandise fulfillment in the store. He explained that the team checks each
other. “If one misses something, the other will catch it,” he told the
students, adding that if items are not properly hung on the racks it can create
“tension” between co-workers in the warehouse and retail floor.
