CENTRAL FLORIDA – For 65 years, Goodwill Industries of Central Florida has been “Building Lives that Work,” and the organization is grateful to its employer partners who help provide the community with critical hands-on job training opportunities.
Knuckle Sandwich & Catering in Orange City is one of those employers. For the past two years, Michael Stridacchio has sought out programs that specifically teach people with special needs to build self-esteem while also gaining employability skills.
“Being part of someone’s journey to self-discovery brings immense joy,” said Stridacchio, owner of Knuckle Sandwich. “It’s incredibly rewarding to watch people flourish in the bustling world of our restaurant. We most recently worked with J, who was timid and unsure of his place. But with patience, support and the structured guidance from our staff, J has proven to be a dedicated and capable employee.”
More than 90% of the revenue generated through Goodwill’s retail stores across Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Volusia, Seminole and Lake counties is reinvested into the organization’s community initiatives, including employment opportunities for its Central Florida neighbors.
“We like to cater employment opportunities to our clientele’s specific interests,” said Steve Batchelor, Director of Community Employment and Training at GICF. “And that means we want to speak with everyone who may be interested in partnering with us to provide hands-on job experience for our neighbors.”
For more information about Goodwill and to learn more about its job training programs, contact Steve at [email protected].
