Goodwill San Antonio Helps Woman Rebuild Life After Prison

Sandra Rojas overcame fears and obstacles to become an assistant manager after 9 years of incarceration.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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After spending 9 years in prison, Sandra Rojas struggled to find a job and reintegrate into society. But with the help of Goodwill San Antonio, she was able to land a job, work her way up to assistant manager, and rebuild relationships with her children. Rojas credits Goodwill's support, counseling, and belief in her as key to her success in defying the odds.

Why it matters

This story highlights the important role that organizations like Goodwill can play in providing opportunities and support for formerly incarcerated individuals to get their lives back on track. It demonstrates how access to jobs, counseling, and a supportive community can make a significant difference in helping people overcome the challenges of life after prison.

The details

Rojas said her life before Goodwill was "a bit dark" as she struggled to find a job after being incarcerated for 9 years. She had many fears about reconnecting with her children and was worried about falling back into old patterns. But Goodwill reached out to her, hired her as a cashier, and provided her with the life skills counseling she needed. Though she almost quit when things started going well, her Goodwill team members wouldn't let her fail. She worked her way back up to an assistant manager position and has now held a job longer than ever before. Rojas also received trauma therapy through Goodwill which helped her start to forgive herself.

  • Rojas was incarcerated for 9 years.
  • Rojas has been working at Goodwill San Antonio for 3 years.

The players

Sandra Rojas

A woman who spent 9 years incarcerated and struggled to find a job and reintegrate into society after her release, until Goodwill San Antonio hired her and provided her with support to become an assistant manager.

Goodwill San Antonio

A nonprofit organization that provides job training, placement services, and other support to help people, including those with barriers to employment, rebuild their lives.

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What they’re saying

“My favorite thing to do is to interact with people. I love being with the customers and making sure they leave satisfied.”

— Sandra Rojas (ksat.com)

“They didn't give up on me. My team members would not let me fail. I started all over again as a cashier, and because I worked so hard, I got my assistant manager position back and have been going strong for the longest time I've held a job now.”

— Sandra Rojas (ksat.com)

The takeaway

This story demonstrates the transformative power of organizations like Goodwill that provide not just jobs, but also the counseling, support, and belief in people who are trying to rebuild their lives after incarceration. It's a powerful example of how access to opportunity and a supportive community can help individuals overcome significant challenges and defy the odds.