Born in Montana, Dalton was the youngest in a household of ten. By the time he turned 17, his father told him it was time to leave the house and build a life of his own. He moved to nearby Boise, Idaho, under intense pressure to look for work. While other kids were living typical teenage lives by going to football games and prom, Dalton was working multiple jobs at a time just to survive. In his early 20s, Dalton was working odd jobs while jumping from couch to couch to stay afloat. He worked as an office janitor, pizza delivery driver, and on the loading dock at a milk plant facility and saved up just enough to rent a room to stay in. 

After losing one of his jobs, Dalton became homeless and lived in his car for several months.  Life moved him to San Antonio where he again struggled to find steady work. He was a part-time bus driver, but the hours were not realistic and began taking a toll on him. Dalton was going through his savings and was on the verge of being homeless for the third time in his life, until fate brought him to Goodwill. 

Dalton applied to be a part of Grounds Maintenance as a second job. Right before he was offered the job, he asked if there was any opportunity for him to utilize his CDL License. Luckily, there was an opening for the Home Pickup Team. Dalton has been with the Home Pickup team since October 2022, and it has been his sole full-time job ever since. Being on the Home Pickup team has given Dalton peace of mind where he doesn’t have to worry if he’ll have enough to pay his rent and become homeless again. 

Dalton is thriving in his position and in May, he received the “CAPpy” Award which is awarded to the Top 5 Goodwill Team Members in the nation for providing excellent customer service. Dalton is the first member of the Home Pickup Team to receive this award and consistently delivers excellent customer service and sets a strong example for his fellow team members. 

“I pride myself in being genuine with our customers. I love talking to everyone and I can always find a common ground for conversation,” Dalton said. 

Dalton has become a key member of the Home Pickup team, consistently serving as an excellent representative of the organization. He enjoys coming to work with his team, who make the workday feel more enjoyable and less like a job.  

Dalton’s story is a powerful reminder that there is always hope. Obstacles can lead to opportunities beyond what you could imagine. Through Goodwill, Dalton has created a stable life for himself and found a supportive community with his team and the organization. 

Story by Vanessa Mallari