The start of a year is a beginning of a next chapter. It’s a time when people reflect on the year gone by and to resolve to make changes. Goodwill Industries International, Inc. will be welcoming a new leader, the government relations team will be working to advance a new list of public policy priorities, and Capitol Hill will begin a new Congress – welcoming nearly 100 new lawmakers in the freshman class.
Perhaps the new Congress will resolve to reauthorize some programs of importance to local Goodwill organizations and the people they serve, including the Older Americans Act and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. Or maybe they will make changes to the tax code to alleviate the challenges that will be met by the nonprofit sector in complying with taxes on parking and transportation benefits or to address an anticipated decline in charitable giving.
However, none of this will happen without our advocates resolving to take action. As you consider your own New Year’s resolution, we encourage you to resolve to lend your voice to support Goodwill and the people we serve. There are some simple actions you can take to support our efforts today. You can introduce yourself to those new lawmakers at the local, state, and federal level and tell them what issues are important to you. If you work for a Goodwill, you can invite the lawmaker to visit and see the mission in action. You can research your local Goodwill to learn more about the programs they provide to your community, so you can be an informed advocate. As a supporter of Goodwill you can also lend your voice by:
- taking action through our Legislative Action Center;
- encouraging your family and friends to register for our alerts/updates; and
- following us on Twitter @GoodwillCapHill;
These tools help us remind lawmakers that their constituents not only feel the impact of their decisions, but they are paying attention and keeping track until the next election. Thank you for the continued advocacy you conduct on behalf of Goodwill. We look forward to working with you in 2019 and for many years to come.
