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The Goodwill Works! Award honors an outstanding individual who has shown great progress and accomplishment while still benefiting from the Goodwill work environment. As an exemplary employee admired by his supervisors and co-workers, Donald Croker certainly fits that description.
Donald’s path to receiving this award has been unique, and full of roadblocks. In fact, it has been difficult for both Donald and his mother since the beginning. Donald’s birth was induced, and unfortunately resulted in a brain injury that was not diagnosed until he was 3 years old.
“I noticed with Donald he was trying to express himself, but he really wasn’t able to, and he got frustrated” said Donald’s mother, Margaret. Donald would not speak his first sentence until he was 4 years old.
At 16 years old, Donald started working at his first job for a Goodwill store in Miami, FL. In the years that followed, Donald’s family would move to South Carolina where he found another job, this time for a Goodwill store in Bluffton, South Carolina.
Sadly, however, there would be more setbacks. At age 29, Donald suffered three brain aneurisms. As a result, Donald struggled with short-term memory loss.
Despite these events, Donald was not prepared to let those setbacks interfere with his personal and professional growth. After spending time scanning donated books and bagging items, Donald eventually was promoted to becoming Bluffton’s top cashier.
“He is different. Donald is a very honest person, excels in numbers, the customers absolutely adore him, and he’s fantastic on the register. He’s a huge help to our team. Everything he rings at that register, he does it properly. In our business, we have a lot of individuals who try to change prices at the register. Donald is the most honest person, and he maintains company policy, follows procedures, and can talk to customers and become their best friend” says Susan DeLeon, who is Donald’s supervisor.
Best of all, working at Goodwill has allowed Donald to become personally and financially independent. In fact, Donald was even able to accomplish his lifelong goal of purchasing his own car. “Goodwill has helped me be a better person. It’s helped me achieve my goals, get a car and save money.”
It is with great pleasure that Palmetto Goodwill recognizes Donald Croker with the 2019 Goodwill Works! Award.
