For those in need, having access to life-building resources can be a high hurdle to cross. Luckily for Bowling Green, Goodwill Kentucky’s Opportunity Center provides aid to an ever-growing need.

More people have taken advantage of career coaching, employment-readiness training, financial support and other services offered by the opportunity center than in previous years, and local Goodwill leaders say that more people are becoming aware of the support structure meant to bring people out of poverty.

“We’ve been seeing an uptick of people truly in crisis and have absolutely nothing, and we have to knock down each one of those barriers that we can,” said Traci Houchins, manager of the Bowling Green Opportunity Center.

As of Dec. 18, the local opportunity center has seen 1,621 unique visitors in 2025, up from 1,169 the previous year.

More than 700 people have met regularly with a Goodwill Kentucky career coach, about 380 people who have come to the opportunity center on the U.S. 31-W By-Pass have gained employment and 11 people have earned industry-recognized certifications.

Five career coaches, a support specialist and a facilitator are on hand to teach soft skills to help people become more attractive to employers.

Chad Spencer, regional director of career services for Goodwill Kentucky, said for each dollar spent in a Goodwill store, about 90 cents goes to an affiliated opportunity center, helping to support clinics in which people with criminal records can get certain convictions expunged, digital literacy training and other services.

Houchins said that Goodwill follows up with people who have gone through the opportunity center classes and secured jobs for up to a year, offering financial support if necessary.

“What’s most gratifying … is seeing people become self-sufficient and thriving after they’ve come here with no hope,” Houchins said. “They’ve been beaten down, some of them are homeless or have things in their background, and our staff makes them feel worthy and they can get those interviews, get those jobs, regain custody of their children, get their own apartment or home and become a family unit.”

The Goodwill Opportunity Center provides needed aid to those less fortunate, and Bowling Green is a better place for it.