Join Goodwill Industries International for Virtual Advocacy Day

Standing up and speaking out for what you believe in for yourself, your family and your community has always been important, but the value and power of advocacy has been especially emphasized over the past few years.
It’s not just individuals who are talking to lawmakers, organizations also play an active role in making their voices heard to lawmakers about a range of important issues. Local Goodwill® organizations are no different and in fact have been advocating for programs and funding we believe in for the past ten years.
On April 19, Goodwill advocates will meet again to talk to lawmakers and share their experiences and beliefs.  This year, Goodwill® organizations are focused on three key issues:
Protect funding for workforce development and job training programs
The President’s current budget proposal included dramatic cuts to many programs that positively impact the lives of individuals served by local Goodwills, including youth, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, criminal backgrounds and other specialized needs.
Expand charitable giving incentives
Unfortunately, the recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act did not include a universal charitable giving deduction.  The nonprofit sector is concerned that with far more taxpayers taking the standard deduction (which was doubled), there will be a decline in charitable giving as those taxpayers would no longer be itemizing and not eligible for the deduction.
Reauthorize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program
The Farm bill which governs a number of food and agriculture programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is due for reauthorization.  Local Goodwill organizations may be engaged with SNAP either in the SNAP E&T program, receiving SNAP referrals or incorporating SNAP along with other basic needs resources as part of their holistic approach to help people gain independence
I invite you to take action virtually with us on April 19. You can join us by taking the following steps:
First, RSVP on Facebook to be counted in our advocacy efforts and to receive important updates.
Then on April 19 be sure to follow Goodwill advocates on Twitter @GoodwillCapHill and follow the hashtag #GoodwillOnHill