Empathy behind the counter
Faith is a 20-year-old pet-lover who brings empathy, humor, and kindness to her work — and to the animals and children she sees every day.
“Faith brings joy to the animals and children she loves to be around — and her customers feel it.”
Faith is a 20-year-old pet-lover who exudes enthusiasm as a team member at a PetSmart in Chicago, where she has worked since October 2024. Faith — who has ADHD and a specific learning disability — enrolled in college but eventually decided higher education wasn't the right path for her.
Faith is the adopted daughter of John Barnes, a retired Chicago public school teacher who, over his career in education, referred dozens of students to Bridges for help getting jobs.
John asked Bridges to help his daughter find a job where her empathy, humor, and kindness would bring joy to others — especially to the animals and children she loves to be around. PetSmart turned out to be exactly the fit. It wasn't Faith's first step into adulthood. It was the right one.
Stories like this happen because of partnership.
Hire through Bridges, fund a placement, refer a young adult, or share your own story.
