Kim's Story

If you shop at the Glen Ellyn Wal-Mart, chances are that you will have been greeted by a smiling Kim Belshaw as you

enter through the front doors. Kim lives in a NAMI DuPage group home in Glen Ellyn and has been working at Wal-Mart

for the past nine years. Kim has Schizophrenia. Wal-Mart has made many compassionate accommodations for Kim over

the past years and has been rewarded by a hard worker who is both grateful for the opportunity and is loyal to her coworkers

and to the customers.

Kim loves her job and says “I feel better about myself because I have a job. I feel happy to get up in the morning and

go to work. I feel that everyone at Wal-Mart has always been there for me; my bosses and all my co-workers care about

me. I enjoy smiling at the customers and greeting them.”

Kim’s life has not always been so happy. Like a lot of individuals who live with a serious mental illness, being able to

work and contribute to the community is incredibly important; unfortunately, employers willing to make some of the

accommodations necessary are few and far between. Without work Kim would spend her time sitting staring at four

walls at home or watching television. While there is currently no cure for mental illness, there is recovery and a stable

home environment and a job play a huge part in that.

Since working at Wal-Mart these past nine years, Kim has had no further hospitalizations and says, “My job let’s me

make money and help others. When I’m working I don’t think about my illness as much, I feel normal. My Job gives me

a better life.” Kim wrote a letter to Mr. Walton thanking him for the opportunity that she has been given and hopes that

others in a similar position will be given the same opportunities. NAMI DuPage salutes Wal-Mart and especially the Glen

Ellyn Store for the understanding they have shown to Kim.