Alum helps jobless, homeless

May 19, 2009

Since graduating from PC in 2003, David Cantrell has stayed busy serving the Macon and Augusta, Ga. areas. As a development specialist with Goodwill, Cantrell helps to raise funding for the non-profit which created its first career campus in Macon. Since it began, the campus has created nearly 200 jobs and placed over 1,500 people into the jobs through its career development services.

“Through faculty, CEPs, liberal arts education, and service projects, PC provided an environment that encouraged civic duty,” Cantrell said. “I fell comfortably into my role at Goodwill because of my time at PC.”

Goodwill’s next initiative is to build a similar campus in Augusta.

“This new campus will strive to meet the needs of local citizens seeking employment during this tough economic period,” Cantrell said. “Goodwill prides itself on providing job training to individuals so that they may provide a sustainable living for themselves and their families.”

The German major and business administration minor while at PC also helps the community as a member of the Augusta-West Rotary Club.

Earlier this year, Cantrell volunteered to prepare and serve food at the Golden Harvest Food Bank, which was a success.

“We served hundreds of homeless people through the generosity of local organizations,” Cantrell said.  “Our Rotary members served as cooks, preps, and servers.” The Golden Harvest Food Bank serves lunch at noon to the needy every day.

This past holiday season, Cantrell and other Rotarians distributed gifts to over 200 residents of St. John’s Tower, a faith-based apartment community for the elderly in Augusta. They also raised over $30,000 to benefit the Southeastern Firefighters’ Burn Foundation; the Augusta Alzheimer’s Foundation; and Heritage Academy, an urban Christian school in Augusta.

While at PC, Cantrell volunteered with Special Olympics as a member of Student Volunteer Services and helped with freshman student orientation. The Campus Outreach member also studied abroad, visiting Germany and Austria.

posted by Stacy Dyer '96
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