Volunteer Profile

JEREMY TEAGUE

Jeremy Teague, age 33, has worked most of his adult life in the construction industry, but in 2008 his back snapped and required surgery. Unable to work for over 18 months, he relied on public assistance to help support his three kids. Meanwhile the construction industry crashed and the company he worked for went out of business.

Once his back had fully recovered, Teague was still unemployed but not the type to just sit around and accept his welfare check. He enrolled in the Opportunity Council’s Community Jobs Program and joined the workforce at Appliance Depot’s job training program.

Teague is one of more than 40 trainees per year who gain work experience at Appliance Depot, where community donated appliances are tested, repaired, and cleaned for resale.

“It would have killed me to sit at home without work,” Teague said. “Here at Appliance Depot I’m learning new skills and keeping my resume current.” He earns a minimum wage through the Community Jobs Program.

“It’s been a struggle to pay the bills on minimum wage,” he said, “I had been earning between $15 and $25 per hour in construction. But going to work every day is important to me. And I think it will be easier to find work with a recent job reference than if I had just been unemployed for all this time.”

Appliance Depot partners with a number of social service agencies and schools to provide work experience and current job references for unemployed workers like Teague. The trainees help run the nonprofit business which is funded by sales of used appliances and parts.

“Since joining our program last March, Jeremy has stepped up and taken on a wide variety of responsibilities,” according to manager Thoren Rogers. “Everything from loading and unloading appliances to parts salvaging, shop maintenance, and sales.”

“We assess work skills and provide an honest appraisal of our trainee’s abilities,” said Rogers. “I can easily recommend Jeremy to an employer in construction or most any other industrial or commercial business.”

Appliance Depot’s training business is unique in Whatcom County and possibly in the state of Washington, according to executive director, Duane Jager. It provides an important community service while operating a local green business. In addition to the trainees, the organization has six employees, including a job coach and two certified appliance technicians.

Employers interested in learning more about Jeremy Teague or the job training program, should contact Appliance Depot at 527-2646.