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STONEVILLE — When Dot Dunlap, 64, lost her job at Liberty Screen Print in Madison in 2004, she was devastated.

Previously, Dunlap had worked at Stoneville Furniture for 28 years but left that job when she learned the company would be closing. She was hired by Liberty Screen and felt secure.

It was a shock when she and about 100 other employees learned their jobs were going to Honduras.

While applying for unemployment benefits at N.C. Employment Security, Dunlap discovered she qualified for services under the American Trade Act. Not only could she draw unemployment benefits, but she also could return to school to learn another trade.

At first, Dunlap was undecided because she was in her late 50s and didn’t know whether to try to find another job or go back to school.

After many thoughts and prayers and talking with her husband, she decided to go to the Job Resource and Training Center in Madison. The center is operated through Rockingham Community College.

Over the next 15 months, Dunlap took medical office technician assistant classes, including medical terminology, billing and coding. She also took computer classes “because I had no computer skills at that time.”

She also took employability skills class, which helps students write resumes and learn interviewing skills.

“That was a big help in preparing me for a job interview,” Dunlap said. In her early years of work, Dunlap did not have to go to interviews.

“You just filled out applications and then were called in to work,” she said.

After graduating in 1965 from South Stokes High School, Dunlap went to work at Madison Throwing Co. but quit work because of health problems. She met her husband Charles while working there; they married in 1971. Both Charles and Dot soon took jobs at Stoneville Furniture and also farmed tobacco.

Once she had completed her training at JRTC, Dunlap went for several unsuccessful interviews. Then, she learned of a job opening for a receptionist/secretary with the Goodwill Community Resource Center in Reidsville. She interviewed and got the job.

In September 2005, at the age of 57, Dunlap began her new career.

“It was a completely changed career,” She said. “I never thought I would be in another field other than manufacturing.”

Last fall, Dunlap was selected as the R. Candy Harris Award Employee of the Year. She also found out the same day that she received a promotion to assistant coordinator at the Eden Resource Center, which opened Oct. 31.

In Eden, Dunlap guides clients in their pursuit of jobs and, as in her case, new careers. She also provides counseling for people with various issues in an effort to help them make the right decision on continuing to look for employment or going back to school.

Some people she assists are homeless, Dunlap said. But the resource center has numerous programs to assist everyone. Project Re-Entry helps individuals with criminal records return to work. Often abused individuals are referred to Help Inc.

Clients can use phones, computers, fax and all other necessary resources and/or classes to help them find work through the resource center.

“I thoroughly enjoy my job helping people try to find jobs,” Dunlap said. “I’ve been unemployed. I know how it is to have a high school diploma but no other training and no computer skills.

“Now, I help other people with writing resumes and help them apply for jobs,” she said.

“It makes me feel wonderful when someone comes back into the center and thanks me for helping them change their lives,” Dunlap said. “That’s worth it all.”

“I love to help people and I am thankful I have a job to help other people,” she said.

Reidsville native Ann Fish has lived in Eden since 1979. Contact her at annsomersfish@yahoo.com.