Goodwill Industries International, Inc. » Up to Some Good

Thousands Attend Goodwill® Career Fairs across the U.S. and Canada

This year’s Goodwill Industries® Week, celebrated last week, was one of the most exciting to date. Thirty-six Goodwills across the U.S. and Canada hosted more than 100 on-the-ground career fair events, and for the first time Goodwill Industries International hosted a virtual career fair. On its first day alone, the virtual career fair—featuring employment opportunities from Cintas, Marriott, Hyatt, Deloitte and OneMain Financial – attracted 1,900 visitors. By the end of the fourth day, more than 7,100 people had attended. More than 2,100 registered a profile on the site, including more than 250 individuals who indicated they were either veterans or military family members. “Goodwill has been connecting people to employment opportunities for 110 years,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “The virtual career fair extended this mission into a new arena by offering employers a new way to connect with our pool of trained workers, and giving the people we serve new opportunities to become economically self-sufficient through the power of hard work.” On-the-ground career fairs shared equal success. One Goodwill agency in Phoenix, AZ, reported job fairs at all 14 of its career centers, with more than 3,000 job seekers attending. In total, 50 companies attended, featuring varied job opportunities. In Shreveport, LA, Goodwill conducted on-the-spot interviews for 16 Goodwill positions, 30 local restaurant crew and management positions, and shuttle driver positions for an upcoming job fair and donation drive this weekend. Attending a career fair in the future? Check out Goodwill’s career exploration site for tips on how you can prepare.

‘American Idol’ Contestant’s Family Donates Autographed Photo to Goodwill®

Goodwill® donors in Southern Georgia are getting the chance to receive more than a tax deduction in return for their donations this week. The parents of current American Idol contestant Phillip Phillips have donated an autographed photo of their son in recognition of Goodwill Industries Week, May 6-12, to be given to one lucky donor at the week’s end. Phillips hails from Leesburg, GA, and is one of the four remaining contestants on the show. He is also the relative of a Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers employee. “[Goodwill] is such a wonderful organization that helps a lot of needy people in different ways,” Phillips’ father Phillip “Donnie” Phillips, Sr., told station WALB. "What is interesting about Phillip is he is a very humble young man, and that is kind of like the Goodwill family,” said the local Goodwill’s VP of Operations Mitch Grossman. “We want to offer the Phillips family to be a part of our family.” In addition to signing the photograph for Goodwill, Phillips is wearing a gray T-shirt with the Goodwill logo this week during American Idol rehearsals. Goodwill and Phillip Phillips fans can keep an eye out for the ‘Smiling G’ to potentially pop up on a future edition of the show and demonstrate their support by tuning into American Idol at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday and voting for Phillips. Watch the WALB interview with Phillips' family below.

Goodwill® Makes Weddings Affordable for Budget-Minded Brides

The average U.S. couple will spend more than $25,000 on their wedding – a price tag out of reach for the millions of Americans who are still feeling the recession’s impact and too out of this world for budget-minded brides. Numbers of Goodwill® agencies have answered the call for affordable wedding wear and décor by hosting bridal-themed events and demonstrating ways to make wedding invitations, centerpieces and more from items that can be found at Goodwill. At Goodwill Easter Seals Minnesota, more than 500 new- and once-worn wedding dresses and other formal were up for grabs last month during the agency’s “Bridal Days” celebration. Hundreds of shoppers turned out to browse the dresses, which included designer gowns from Nicole Miller, Vera Wang, Watters Brides and Demetrios donated from area retailers throughout the year. Take a look at the offerings in the video below. For the fifth year in a row, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England celebrated its annual Goodwill Bridal and Prom Showcase in April, which featured hundreds of new and gently used dresses ranging from $9.99 to $299. The event included prize drawings, the opportunity to meet with wedding professionals and model volunteers showcasing a variety of dresses. “In these times when everyone is watching their wallet, it is important to offer alternatives for formal wear. Everyone is looking for ways to save money and spend less. There is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a dress, when you can spend a fraction of that and look just as great,” emphasized Manchester, NH, Store Manager Marc Mouser. Dresses and formalwear aren’t the only wedding-related finds to be had at Goodwill. Goodwill Industries Serving Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa has proved to be a go-to destination for couples looking to give their celebrations a vintage feel. Items like suitcases, vintage beaded clutches, cake toppers, picture frames and more have all been snatched up by brides-to-be for their special days.

Local Goodwill Prepares Youth with Disabilities for Adult Life

Nineteen-year-old Sarah Yoncoskie is getting hands-on experience at Christiana Hospital – part of the largest health care system in Delaware – thanks to a joint partnership between Christiana Care Health System, the state Departments of Labor and Education, the Red Clay Consolidated School District and Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County. "I hope to get a job at Christiana," she told The News Journal as she browsed the hospital’s job site. "I am looking for opportunities and to see what's out there." Yoncoskie participates in Project SEARCH, a program that combines work experience with training in employability and independent living skills to help young adults with disabilities make successful transitions from school to adult life. Students attend the program for a full school year, participating in classes on employability and living skills as well as working at a host site. The school district provides a special education teacher and the Goodwill^®provides up to three job coaches to work with the students at each site. After learning about topics such as team building, money management and job search skills, students go to their jobs, rotating through several different ones during the year. The total workplace immersion enables a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and on-the-job training and support. On March 30, Delaware Gov. Jack Markell visited Christiana Hospital to formally recognize the success of Project SEARCH. On some days, Yoncoskie works in the materials management equipment room at Christiana Hospital. She checks the computer for requests from nurses – as many as 700 in a single shift – and retrieves the supplies needed. On other days, she works at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, assisting with billing and updating files. She told The News Journal that the jobs make her feel important. “People over there [at the cancer center] have told me ‘you’re amazing’ and ‘you’re doing the right thing,’” she said. Read more in The News Journal.

WWII Love Letters Found at Goodwill® Reunited with Writer’s Daughter

LaVonne Hitchcock was shopping Goodwill Industries of the Redwood Empire’s Santa Rosa outlet store when she noticed a plastic bag full of old airmail envelopes. Knowing the package would ultimately be recycled if not sold, the secondhand buyer and seller added the package to her pile of finds and bought the entire lot for $5. When she opened the package and started reading through the letters, she realized she was in possession of nearly 150 love letters written by a young sailor to a girl he’d met before shipping off to Pearl Harbor shortly before WWII. The letters, which begin in 1941 and run through 1944, chronicle the relationship of Marx Weil and Joyce “Joy” Taff from the year they met when he was stationed at the Alameda Naval Air Station through their courtship and eventual marriage. In a few of the letters, military censors have blacked or cut out portions of Weil’s letters. Marx Weil and Joyce Taff after getting married“I had chills up and down my spine,” Hitchcock told the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat. “I got completely sucked into the story, and wondering how the letters wound up at Goodwill.” Through Internet research, Hitchcock discovered that both Marx and Joy had passed away within recent years, but was able to find the name of one of her daughters, Linda Cederborg, who currently lives in Sonoma Valley. After talking with Cederborg on the phone, Hitchcock made plans to hand over the letters to her in person. Cederborg revealed that the love letters were sold by mistake as part of an estate sale following the death of her father. She said her parents, who had been married 66 years, were fiercely loyal to each other until her mother passed away shortly after their anniversary in 2010. Although Cederborg wouldn’t divulge too many details about the letters’ contents, she shared one snipped with the newspaper from January 27, 1942: “Joy, please don’t think I’ve got a string of girlfriends because I’m a sailor. I did go out quite a lot at home but that was almost a year ago,” Weil wrote. “I’ve not the slightest idea what you think of me and I know perfectly well I’m no prize package…If you only knew how much I’d like to tell people you’re my girlfriend.” Read more about the lost and found story in the Press-Democrat.

Las Vegas Goodwill® Takes Store on the Road to Help Homeless Vets

Goodwill of Southern Nevada took its signature mobile store concept to the 2012 Las Vegas Veterans Stand Down, an event designed to give a "hand up" to homeless veterans, providing them food, clothing, services and referrals.

The store, set up on March 21-22 in the East Las Vegas Senior Community Center, was unique in that veterans were not charged for items, but received “Stand Down Bucks” based on their particular needs.

All veterans who registered at the event received a general "buck." And veterans who visited the Goodwill’s Career Connections table got a special "buck" to obtain career clothing at the store.

The Goodwill® mobile store helped 514 veterans, and nearly 150 visited the Goodwill's Career Connections table for employment services information. Two veterans were hired on the spot to work as Goodwill attended donation center ambassadors!

“Goodwill of Southern Nevada was extremely proud to be a part of the Las Vegas Veterans Stand Down for the fifth year in a row,” said President and CEO Steve Chartrand. More than 30 Goodwill team members volunteered during the event.

The Goodwill's participation was able to expand this year, thanks to a grant from the Caesars Foundation.

Chartrand said, “We truly appreciate the Caesars Foundation’s commitment to fund innovation, and are pleased that their support allows us to participate in event like the Stand Down, which provides much-needed resources to our Southern Nevada community.”

Watch a video interview, and view photos from the event on the Goodwill’s Facebook page and in the Las Vegas Review Journal.

IL Goodwill® Partners with Local College to Help Vets Get Jobs

Veterans in Central Illinois will receive support in training and search for a job, thanks to a new partnership between Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois and Spoon River College. The program aims to help veteran job seekers overcome challenges to employment and create a cohesive community network to support this population. New services for veterans will include one-on-one support from a Goodwill® veterans employment specialist, along with computer training, job readiness training, and job search and placement assistance. "Our mission is to support veterans and all individuals who are working to better their lives," explained Bill Bontemps, director of vocational services for the Central Illinois Goodwill. "By offering special assistance to veterans and sharpening their résumé writing and interviewing skills, we will help men and women in Fulton County who have served their country find good paying jobs." “This collaboration is a great opportunity for both Goodwill and Spoon River College,” said Carol Davis, the VP of community outreach at the college. “We want to expand our services to the people of Canton and the greater Fulton County, and offering a program to help veterans get jobs or learn skills to get better jobs is a perfect fit for our mission.” Read more about the partnership in the Canton Daily Ledger and watch a video from the partnership announcement below.

College ‘Undie Classic’ Results in 1,400 lb. Clothing Donation to FL Goodwill

Goodwill® agencies are committed to helping college students and other youth succeed by providing access to financial education, mentoring and job readiness skills. While usually on the giving end of youth engagement, Goodwill of Central Florida found itself on the receiving end of a university initiative this month, when University of Central Florida students donated more than 1,400 pounds of clothing during the Sigma Nu fraternity’s annual “Undie Classic.” More than 200 students joined the event, which required participants to strip down to their underwear and run one mile around campus. After checking in at the registration booth, students disrobed and deposited their clothing into a Goodwill donation bin. The donations will help provide vocational services for more than 60 people in the Central Florida Community. “It’s a fun and different type of philanthropy,” one student said. “Most collect money, donating clothes is sort of an incentive.” The fraternity said it chose the Orlando-based Goodwill for its clothing donation because it believes the agency offers services to the community that other nonprofit organizations cannot provide. For more details about the event, visit Goodwill of Central Florida’s website.

Goodwill® Roots for “Star” Athlete As He Takes to the Dance Floor

Goodwill supporter and professional football player Donald Driver took to the dance floor last night with energy and athleticism on the premier of the 14^th season of ABC’s hit show, “Dancing with the Stars.” The Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver began his relationship with Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin (Milwaukee) in March 2003, signing autographs at a store grand opening. Since then, Driver has become an integral part of the Goodwill, serving as a spokesperson and participating in countless promotions and productions that benefit the Goodwill. Driver has appeared in 10 Goodwill commercials that raise awareness about the mission, signed his children’s books at Goodwill stores, and participated in events including grand openings, fashion fundraisers and award ceremonies. Show your support for a great Goodwill supporter! Vote for Donald Driver and his partner Peta Murgatroyd on "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC.

Georgia Goodwill® Job Fair Connects Job Seekers with More than 500 Opportunities

Connie Lowery, a human resources manager for the Fort Gordon/Augusta Exchange stores, gave out more than 300 information sheets to job seekers at a job fair hosted by Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA (Augusta) on March 8. Although her company is only looking to fill five positions, she was thrilled by the interest. “We ran out of fliers within the first hour and had to make more copies,” she told The Augusta Chronicle. “We expect to get a lot of applications online. It’s been a very productive day.” Fifteen companies at the fair were looking to fill more than 500 positions. Among the larger employers were Bridgestone Americas, which had 200 positions, and SITEL, which had 100. Representatives from U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) were on hand, and more than 700 job seekers, including Shanta Sturgis, attended. “So many people are looking. I wanted to be here first thing,” Sturgis said. The mother of five and job fair regular lined up two hours before the doors opened to be among the first inside. “I’ve been everywhere, and I’m willing to do basically anything.” Read and watch news coverage from the fair in The Augusta Chronicle and on WJBF News Channel 6.

NC Goodwill® Exhibit Showcases Artists with Disabilities

For the fifth consecutive year, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (NC) is teaming up with the Charlotte Art League (CAL) to showcase the work of artists from the Goodwill’s Employment Skills Training program. This year’s ‘Color My Dreams’ exhibit, open daily through March 30, showcases more than 70 pieces of art including drawings, paintings and mosaics created by individuals with intellectual, physical and other disabilities. Volunteers from CAL facilitate the art classes. Outreach director Sandra Gray, who teaches the majority of Goodwill’s art sessions, says this creative expression reinforces skills that are critical to success in today’s workforce. “Students not only learn to take directions but they learn to use those directions to produce something of their own,” she says. “They develop dexterity and skills in handling the materials effectively, and they learn new vocabulary.” Diane Weekley, director of vocational services for the Charlotte Goodwill, agrees, noting, “Our students look forward to this show every year. Exploring art helps these students build confidence and life skills that will help them in their future jobs and in becoming independent.” The exhibit kicked off on March 2 with a reception that allowed the artists to practice and hone their communication skills. All artwork featured in the exhibit is available for sale, with 80 percent of the proceeds going directly to the artist. “The exhibit gives them the confidence to approach the public and talk about their art,” Gray concluded. “They gain the self-esteem of seeing the works admired and purchased by the public. Each student who has a painting exhibited can say, ‘I am an artist.’ Each student who sells a painting can say, ‘I am a professional artist.’” Find out more about the program on the Charlotte Goodwill’s web site and in an interview with Goodwill’s Constance Mitchel and artist Britney Crosby on FOX Charlotte.

Goodwill® Simulated Community to Help People with Disabilities Build Life Skills

Beginning in May, Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs will launch a first-of-its-kind life skills program for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities called Possibilities, which will provide them opportunities to build the skills they need to succeed in everyday life in an engaging, hands-on environment. Applying a lead $1 million grant from the Daniels Fund, the agency will develop the Possibilities Town Square, a 14,000-square-foot space featuring businesses and store fronts commonly found in a downtown setting, including an art studio, apartment, bank, city hall, community center, fitness center, general store, health center and Snoezelen Program participants will engage in hands-on self-directed learning using the simulated town square as their teaching grounds. As they participate, they will receive the rewards of their accomplishments through a token-based purchasing system that allows them to spend what they earn in the town square’s general store. VP of Rehabilitation and Community Services Denise Krug told The Gazette that Possibilities’ “learn and practice” approach is key to cultivating confidence and independence in people who have intellectual and physical disabilities. “We want to make these people as comfortable as they can be out there. This is so much more about the whole person than what we’ve been doing,” she explained. One hundred individuals are expected to participate in the Possibilities program once it launches in May. The Colorado Springs Goodwill plans to enroll an additional 80 individuals with disabilities before the end of the year. Possibilities will also serve seniors who experience cognitive and physical challenges such as Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s. It will also function as a living lab for individuals in the agency’s welfare-to-work program, including CNA students who will train in the mock town’s health center. Read more about the Possibilities program on the Colorado Springs Goodwill website and in the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Goodwill® Game Teaches Kids about Donating and Recycling

Attention parents and kids at heart! If you're looking for a fun and educational activity, be sure to check out Goodwill's free Donation Match Game (online and for the iPad). The interactive game, powered by Goodwill's Donate Movement, teaches kids about many of the different items you have in your home that can be donated or recycled. As matches are made in the game, they get sorted into a donate bin or recycling bin. The game features two levels of difficulty to challenge kids of all ages and allows them to pick a style of music to play along with. After completing the game, kids can add their name to the leader board and download a certificate containing a checklist of items in their home that they can ask their parents to donate and recycle. Match games are great for learning concentration, memory and cognitive skills, and the Donation Match Game helps kids gain an understanding of how recycling and donating is good for their community and for the planet. In addition to playing the Donation Match game, youth can check out Goodwill's kid-friendly web page to find step-by-step guidelines for planning a donation drive at their school. The page has useful tips for promoting a donation drive, including free downloadable posters to hang up in schools and communities. Check out the Donation Match Game app for free either online or in the iTunes store.

OK Goodwill Creates Valentines for Veterans

More than 400 valentines made their way to veterans in VA hospitals and nursing homes this Valentine’s Day, thanks to the big hearts and helping hands of the staff and program participants at Goodwill Industries of Tulsa. The activity was a voluntary effort conducted in conjunction with the Cherokee Nation’s ‘Valentines for Vets” program. Karla Davis, director of finance and IT at the agency, first heard about the idea through her role as a Girl Scout volunteer and life member. While she didn’t have time to activate the project with her troop, she thought it would be a great activity for people at the Goodwill’s headquarters and at the Goodwill East Campus. “As an organization, we are trying to open new ways for our staff and clients to connect with us, with each other and with the broader community,” Davis said. “Our hope is that these activities will make employees more engaged and thus happier, more satisfied and less likely to leave the organization.” Davis also noted that supporting veterans is something that is close to the hearts of many Oklahomans. The state’s National Guard troops have been called up for service in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years, meaning veterans are no longer just grandparents; they are parents, children, neighbors and friends. More than 25 staff and program participants participated in the activity, with others donating cards to be used in the project. The valentines were addressed to “My Hero,” “Our Hero,” or “My Friend” and signed with the first name of the writer, the agency name, or both. Many cards also included a thank you message for the veteran. The Cherokee Nation emphasizes that while plenty of organizations exist to send items to our troops overseas, the veterans in VA hospitals and VA nursing homes are often overlooked. Last year, the group delivered more than 4,000 valentines to veterans.

Goodwill® Assistance Dog Paired with 13-Year-Old Girl

When Eddie graduates on April 13, he’ll be spared the usual uncertainty and anxiety about employment experienced by most students. The golden retriever, named after Goodwill® founder Rev. Edgar J. Helms, recently met his future “employer” and companion, 13-year old Jordyn Miller, who has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair. Eddie is one of the first graduates of Chattanooga Goodwill’s Assistance Dog Academy. The transition from student to full-time service companion is a much-awaited culmination of two years’ intense, 24/7 education under the tutelage of Ramona Nichols, a certified dog trainer and the director of the Assistance Dog Program. During their training, the assistance dogs learn more than 90 commands and master skills like opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, retrieving items and pulling wheelchairs. Upon graduation, the agency matches the dogs with carefully-screened recipients who live in Goodwill’s 23-county service area. All the dogs are given away free of charge. Joey Miller, Jordyn’s mother and an elementary school teacher, had submitted the application for an assistance dog on her daughter’s behalf. “I was so excited and relieved when I got the call. I didn’t know how I was going to tell Jordyn ‘no’ after she had gotten so excited about everything. If they had told us no, we would’ve had to wait two years for them to train another dog. She was praying night and day,” Miller told the Catoosa News. Jordyn will be the first student in her county’s school system to use a service animal, and will attend a two-week training camp to learn how to manage Eddie. Nichols will also meet with school officials to educate them on assistance dog behavior and etiquette.

GCFLatino.org Helps Spanish Speakers Build English, Job Skills

¡Con libertad para aprender lo que desea, cuando quiera, absolutamente gratis! This is the message site visitors see when they first visit GCFLatino.org. Thanks to GCF Latino, Goodwill® represents the “liberty to learn what you wish, when you want, absolutely free” for Spanish speakers worldwide. GCFLatino.org is the Spanish version of GCFLearnFree.org, a web-based interactive program created by the Goodwill Community Foundation, Inc. (GCF®), the foundation for Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina. GCF’s mission is to create and provide education, employment and life enrichment opportunities for people who desire to improve the quality of their lives. Based entirely in Colombia, GCF Latino is comprised of an 11-member team of Hispanic Goodwill contractors, led by program manager Alejandra Holguin. “Our objective is to create an education platform designed by Latinos for Latinos all over the world,” says Holguin. GCF Latino creates learning opportunities for Spanish speakers who want to enhance essential skills needed for employment. The web-based curricula of the virtual workshops can help anyone become highly knowledgeable on Windows Office programs, social media platforms, computer applications and day-to-day life skills. Tutorials on Word, Excel, and PowerPoint help users acquire essential skills for office or administrative positions. The popular “Everyday Life” program guides limited English-proficient individuals through the top 1,000 words in the English language. “We use these words to teach our users critical life lessons needed to successfully function in the United States-- lessons like using an ATM or learning how to take a train,” Holguin explains. Visit GCFLatino.org to check out the variety of resources available to Spanish speakers. You can also connect with GCF Latino on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

Students Give Each Other a Hand Up in Tallahassee Goodwill® Donation Drive

A six-year partnership between Goodwill Industries-Big Bend (FL) and Leon County Schools (LCS) is helping students in need give each other a hand up through an annual voucher system and donation drive. For several years, numerous individual schools in the county had contacted Goodwill asking for assistance to provide items for students at their schools. It became apparent that this was a district-wide need so Goodwill and Leon County Schools formalized their win-win partnership in 2006. At the beginning of each school year, LCS social workers receive Goodwill® vouchers to distribute to students throughout the year when needed. Students use the vouchers to shop for clothing, shoes and other items at Goodwill. “School social workers have come to rely on this resource as the most convenient and immediate way to provide clothing assistance to families in need,” said Mara Shows, a social worker with Leon County Schools. “The clothing vouchers give these students the dignity to shop for themselves for what they need and like versus having clothes given to them.” In return, Leon County Schools allows Goodwill to have an annual district-wide clothing drive. Over the course of four weeks, every student receives a Goodwill bag to fill up with donations and bring it back to their school. The theme of this year’s donation drive, being held from January 20-February 10, is ‘You Can Make a Difference.’ “One goal of this donation drive is for the students to learn they can make a difference by the power of donating,” said Brooke Lochore, VP of public relations at Goodwill Industries-Big Bend. “Every student, from a kindergartener to a senior in high school, has something they no longer can wear, use or want. By donating to Goodwill the students are not only helping others in their community they are making a difference to our environment,” she emphasized.

Single Mothers Seeking Jobs Turn to NY/NJ Goodwill®

Located in the heart of South Bronx, NY, the Walmart Foundation-funded 'Beyond Jobs' program at Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey serves one of the poorest districts in the United States. According to the New York City Human Resources Administration, the Bronx has more children on public assistance than any other New York City borough. “Beyond Jobs offers training and employment services for displaced homemakers who need to work after being out of the job market for several years,” says William Forrester, president and CEO of Goodwill of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey. “We help those unemployed or underemployed single parents affected by life issues such as divorce, death of a spouse, illness, abandonment or domestic violence.” For most single mothers in the area, the number one priority is to keep their children safe. Many of these women did not thrive in traditional school settings, so Goodwill focused its program on turning job seekers into job holders in high-growth industries such as health care, retail and hospitality. A single mother of two young boys, Diana Rodriguez was referred to Beyond Jobs from Goodwill’s welfare-to-work program. Through her drive and determination to provide a better life for herself and her family, Rodriguez completed first aid and CPR/AED training, as well as customer service training. In less than a month, she was hired to work as a home health aide recruiting coordinator and is now earning wages to support her family. “The Beyond Jobs team believed in me even when I had no faith in my capabilities,” says Rodriguez. “They highlighted my strengths, motivated me, and supported my choices.”

Canadian Goodwill Program Helps Youth with Disabilities Go to Work

In an age of high unemployment, people with disabilities continue to have a harder time finding jobs than most. For decades, Goodwill has given people with disabilities the skills and tools they need to find jobs, build their careers and become independent. In Canada, the Youth At Work Program is run by a career center at Goodwill, The Amity Group in Hamilton, Ontario. It is geared for young adults ages 16 to 30 who have self-disclosed disabilities and who have not been successful in finding or maintaining employment. Most of the participants in the program do not have high school diplomas. Youth at Work operates in three phases. First, individuals receive job training and shadowing opportunities, during which they can earn paychecks, receive assessments of their work and obtain coaching on areas for improvement. Participants gain exposure to a variety of work experiences, build confidence and develop positive relationships. The second phase involves work placement, during which youth can learn new skills within supportive environments. During this period, the employer provides additional training time and support based on the needs of the participant. The third and final phase of the program focuses on helping participants obtain and maintain employment as well as ensuring they can meet employers’ expectations successfully. By the time participants enter the workplace, they will have demonstrated workplace standards and expectations. Kavita Persaud, 18, enrolled in the program in February. Although she has post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety, she participated fully and was a positive force within the program and with her peers. After obtaining “Smart Serve” certification in the hospitality industry through the Goodwill, she has a full-time job in customer service and is looking forward to a bright future. “This Smart Serve certificate will open up employment possibilities for me,” she says. “I am thankful that I had the opportunity to take part in this training through the Goodwill Youth at Work program.”

People with Brain Injuries Get Back to Work in Goodwill® Program

Herbert Garvin was working as a baggage handler at Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport in 2005 when he experienced a ruptured brain aneurysm. After brain surgery and hospital rehabilitation, Garvin was unable to care for himself and moved back home with his parents. Herbert tried to return to his job at the airport but was unable to perform the work. He attempted several other jobs, but his brain injury caused him to make mistakes like wandering off, forgetting his shift and not remembering to return after lunch. Motivated to provide for his family and daughter, Herbert came to Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire’s ADVANCE Acquired Brain Injury program. The program, an award-winning day program, provides assistance to people who experience a brain injury or other neurological disability. “Individuals and families impacted by brain injuries come to us confused, exhausted and desperate for something that will make a difference,” says Paula Ruehling, who directs the program. “The work required is tremendous, not only for us but just as much so for them.”

Herbert's Road to Success

Determined to succeed, Herbert woke up at 4:30 a.m. each day to leave with his parents for their job at the airport, then waited at the airport until it was time to take the bus to ADVANCE. He would take the bus back to the airport at the end of the day and ride home with his parents. He kept this schedule for more than a year. Despite initially experiencing low physical and mental endurance, Herbert soon mastered basics like packing and bringing a lunch, and within nine months was able to attend the program five days in a row. “ADVANCE has been great for me, it’s been very important,” Herbert notes. “It’s been the starting point for me bouncing back and getting back to work. I come to work every day, I do my job, I make sure it’s done right. Before, I was sitting around all day, doing nothing. The things I thought I couldn’t do, I can do. It feels good.”

Celebrating Personal Milestones

ADVANCE creates a personalized plan for each person, and cognitive and literacy instructors teach strategies for problems such as organizational skills, time management and memory problems. In addition to an independent living instructor, ADVANCE has certified vocational rehabilitation counselors, case managers, job coaches, and also employment and training specialists. “When they begin to make progress – when they begin to be able to speak again or write their name or use a memory notebook to keep track of their life – it is like coaching the winner of the Boston marathon,” Ruehling said. “We all celebrate. After the end of about 18 months of hard work and celebrations, we return them to a life where they can be an asset to their community.”

Goodwill Program Gives Bikes to Needy Children, Job Training to Unemployed Workers

Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA teamed up with local organizations this month to provide more than 200 Augusta-area children with bicycles and helmets as part of the community’s annual ‘Santa Wheels’ program. Goodwill has been involved with the program since 2006, contributing 1,035 volunteer hours and distributing more than 600 bicycles to deserving children. Partners on the Santa Wheels project include local Master Buick GMC, Master Chevrolet Cadillac, Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse and Safe Kids East Central. “When Master Buick GMC called and offered to help Goodwill trainees learn valuable job skills by mentoring them to refurbish the donated bikes, we were thrilled,” said President and CEO Jim Stiff. “ We are very eager to help people who are unemployed land a job before Christmas and to help deserving children get a bike for Christmas.” Children were selected via an application process conducted by Goodwill’s job connections center. Many children who received bikes have parents enrolled in Goodwill’s programs. The bicycles were given to the children at a “bike rodeo” on December 15. The partnership benefits more than the children and families who receive the bikes – it also helps people supports job training for Goodwill Industries trainees who are seeking to enter the workforce. Eight trainees in Goodwill’s WORKing Solutions, a program serving individuals who are homeless, have been earning a paycheck while refurbishing bikes since October and have learned valuable job skills from volunteer mentors while repairing and reconditioning donated bicycles. Goodwill pays the program participants to revamp the bikes four days per week with one day set aside for job search training and advisement at South Augusta’s One Stop Career Center. Through this process of learning job skills, four of the trainees have already gained employment. Visit the Santa Wheels Facebook page to learn more about the program and see pictures from this year’s efforts, or visit WFXG to see video from the event.

Goodwill® Helps Youth Set Education, Employment Goals

When given guidance and support, a young person can learn new skills, become a hard-working employee and succeed in life. That’s the philosophy of the Crossroads Reintegration Program at Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana (Shreveport). The program helps youth ages 12 to 21 with their personal growth and goals, assuring a smooth transition from secured placement facilities back into their homes and communities. Staff members help youth build healthy relationships, focus on the future and become productive members of society. “Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana recognizes that reintegration can be difficult,” says Jennifer Miller, a youth specialist at the Goodwill. “But we have the expertise to help young people with the issues that they face.” Youth specialists visit youth in secure placement facilities to help them set short- and long-term behavioral goals and provide them with decision-making tools that can be used immediately and upon release. Once youth return to their homes, they are offered key services through Goodwill, including assistance with educational enrollment and completion, support with gaining and maintaining employment, and conflict resolution classes. In addition, the Goodwill offers two training classes per week that focus on job readiness and independent living skills. GED courses are available for youth who don’t wish to return to traditional schools. Young people in the program also have priority access to other services offered by the Goodwill, including literacy courses, basic and intermediate computer classes, résumé preparation and money management classes. “Our mission is to work hand-in-hand with a supportive team to nurture and promote balance within our youths’ lives, their families and the community,” says Miller. The Crossroads Reintegration Program is funded by the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice.

Detroit Goodwill® Helps Single Mothers Write Stories of Success

In Michigan, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit’s Beyond Jobs program is modeled after the agency’s nationally recognized Flip the Script program. An empowerment program with a philosophy that each individual deserves a second chance, Flip the Script gives participants the opportunity to change their life stories. Negative beginnings need not result in negative endings. “The support from the Walmart Foundation grant comes at a crucial time for the people who are unemployed in our region,” says Lorna G. Utley, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit. “Through this grant, we make an incredible impact on the lives of women and their families across the Detroit area by helping them develop the skills they need to succeed in today’s job market.” One such woman is Debra Lyttle, who was referred to Goodwill by a friend after she spent 20 years in what seemed like a never-ending, self-destructive pattern. “One day, I just woke up and decided that I wanted more out of life,” says Lyttle. “I decided it was time to just grow up.” A widow with three grown children and six grandchildren, she was eager to begin training. She was placed in one of Detroit’s resurging industries, assembling sensors for automotive transmissions. “This program is perfect for single mothers living in the City of Detroit,” says Joyce Memminger, Beyond Jobs program manager. “They are learning that a job alone is not enough. You will still face challenges if you don’t master financial responsibility.” Lyttle attended classes on responsible spending, saving money and budgeting. She now has a bank account and is self- sufficient. “My past is obsolete,” she says. “I’ve learned from my mistakes, and Goodwill has been a godsend in helping me transition to a productive life.”

Goodwill® Program Breaks Down Language Barriers for Job Success

Hispanics currently make up 16.3 percent of the total U.S. population, a number expected to rise to 30 percent by 2050. Faced with burgeoning population growth and higher-than-average high school dropout and unemployment rates, this group’s need for workforce, education and other support services is greater than ever. For Hispanic job seekers, the ability to speak English can often mean the difference between unemployment and job success. For this reason, Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette (Portland, OR) developed an ESL program that offers free classes five days a week. "Classes are offered at four proficiency levels to help both Goodwill® employees and community members gain important skills in a learning environment sensitive to the needs of non-native speakers," explains Alisa Drury, an ESL instructor at the Goodwill. Topics include survival English, work¬place English, community and civic topics, financial literacy, vocational instruction, and the fundamentals of English grammar and composition. The agency employs both group learning and individualized instruction to accom¬modate different learning styles. "Since the program's inception, 1,046 Hispanic community members and 353 Goodwill employees have improved their language skills and ability to function in an English-speaking workplace," Drury notes. Valmis Burgos (pictured above), a refugee from Cuba, came to the United States with her husband and young son. Despite early anxieties about living in a new country, she earned her first paying job in 2000 when she applied to be a clothes sorter at Goodwill’s Tigard, OR, store. With support from Goodwill services and ESL classes, she has advanced her career and now works as a cashier at the agency. "I never say no to work, and I love it here. This job has helped my family," Burgos notes. She also says she looks forward to sponsoring her daughter and new granddaughter, still living in Cuba, to rejoin the family in the United States.

IA Goodwill® Celebrates 85 Years of Serving Thanksgiving Dinner to Community

Three hundred and fifty pounds of turkey, 200 pounds of potatoes and 1,000 dinner rolls were some of the items on the menu this year when Goodwill Industries Wall Street Mission served Thanksgiving dinner to its local community for the 85th year. The Sioux City Goodwill held its first annual dinner in 1891 to celebrate the agency’s community impact and raise public awareness about Goodwill programs and services. More than 100 volunteers showed up to help at the event, which fed more than 1,000 community members this year. "It's open to the public. It doesn't matter what your economic status is. If somebody is in need of some fellowship, this is the place you want to be," said Sonny Kellen, the agency’s VP of product development and public relations. Station KCAU-TV profiled June Stowe and her family, who have attended the Goodwill Thanksgiving dinner for the past nine years. Stowe sits down to the table with her mother, brother, sister, son and nephew each year. “Our Thanksgiving at home is smaller, and we don’t have as much. When you’re on a tight budget, it really helps out to have extra food and be able to save some money for Christmas,” she said. The event has also become an annual tradition for the community members who volunteer at the event. "Me and my wife have been doing it for 17 years. It just gives you a good feeling helping people," said Donald Parrott, a volunteer with the Washta United Methodist Church in Washta, IA. Read more about this year’s event at KTTIV News 4.

How Will You Help Others This Holiday? Give Back on the ‘Good Wall’

The holiday season affords us all the opportunity to give thanks and lend a hand to others. To help you celebrate the season of giving, Goodwill® recently launched the “Good Wall,” a virtual wall here on the site where you can share how you and your family plans to give back this year. In these tough economic times, it can be tempting to focus on what we don't have. It's always helpful to focus on the things we have to be grateful for, as well as what we can give to other people. Even with reduced gift-giving budgets, there are still many ways to give back to others. Here’s how it works:

Visit the Good Wall by going to http://www.goodwill.org/goodwall.
Enter your name, or choose to comment anonymously.
Post your response – in 140 characters or less — to our question: During the holidays, we take the time to give thanks and lend a hand to others. How do you celebrate the spirit of giving this time of year?
Read through the other responses and "like" and "tweet" the ideas that most resonate with you.
Check back often to read the latest ways people plan to give back this season.

And finally, spread the word! Share the 'Good Wall' on your social networks, and with friends and family -- the more ideas we share, the greater an impact we can make. Write on the Good Wall

Celebrate America Recycles Day with Goodwill’s Holiday Cards

November 15 is America Recycles Day, the only nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. If you're still in the market for the perfect holiday cards to send your friends and family this year, Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan’s Paperworks Studio's recycled cards give you the opportunity to celebrate the season while affirming your commitment to the environment and the power of work. Cards are handmade by a production team of Goodwill program participants with disabilities and other challenges to employment. Check out the video below to learn about the artists who make the recycled cards: This year’s holiday lineup features four card styles, all made from recycled materials:

Wheelchair Art Cards: Cards start with a mural background ‘painted’ with artists’ wheelchairs. Artists then draw snowmen that are laid on top of the mural and placed on soft, shimmery berry red cards. The inside reads “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”
Dancing Tree-O: Five colorful cards feature a trio of cheerful dancing trees to celebrate the holiday spirit. Cards come in shimmer shades of gold, green apple, amethyst, paprika and chocolate. Inside, the card states “Deck the halls, share the love, feel the warmth. All the best to you!”
Falling Flakes: Three glistening snowflakes are displayed on this soft, pewter card made from old boxes. There are three colors to pick from – frosty blue, shimmering silver and classic gold. The interior of the card reads, “May all the magic of the season be yours.”
Snowing Rose Petals: This card features soft pine tree branches and pine cones surrounded by snowing rose petals. The sentiment in the card reads, “Wishing you all the wonder and beauty of the season.”

View and purchase the holiday cards on the Paperworks Studio website.

NC Goodwill® Helps Military Families Build Support Systems

In North Carolina, the Charlotte metropolitan area is home to two National Guard facilities and a reserve unit, but until recently it lacked services geared toward military families and veterans. Service members serving at guard facilities and their families face unique challenges because they don’t have access to the host of services that are available on full-time military installations. To fill this void, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont launched Operation Independence in November 2010 with a generous grant from the Microsoft Corporation. The grant enabled the agency to develop a state-of-the-art computer lab and hire two full-time specialists — a vocational evaluator at the Goodwill’s facilities and a counselor at Central Piedmont Community College. “We offer wraparound services — that’s our golden nugget,” says Nicholas Riggins, who is a veteran and the agency’s vocational evaluator. “We work with other organizations to make sure veterans get the services they deserve.” Three of the four Operation Independence employees have military experience: two are veterans and one is a veteran’s spouse. They understand firsthand the challenges their participants face. In addition to providing employment services, such as career assessments and skills training, the Goodwill helps with relocation issues. It connects participants with community services, and helps them navigate the city and learn who’s hiring. “Our biggest strength has been not only helping veterans find employment, but also helping them connect with other veterans in the community,” Riggins says. Recently, the Goodwill® began hosting Focus on the Family events, during which local military families come together to discuss the challenges they face. As more reservists and guard members are deployed, either overseas or to assist with domestic natural disasters, both they and their families must adjust to full-time military life without the support of a base. Now, instead of serving one weekend each month, they are on duty and away from home 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Focus on the Family events help them build extended support systems with people who understand what they’re going through.

Texas Goodwill® Expands Veteran Services to Accommodate Needs

[caption id="attachment_14240" align="alignleft" width="235" caption="Veteran Aubrey Martin went to Houston Goodwill for employment services. Photo by Jessie Heston Photography, 2011"][/caption] When Texas saw a spike in the rate of homelessness among veterans, Goodwill Industries of Houston took on the task to connect veterans with stable housing and employment. “At this point in time, we can serve just about any veteran from any war in any conditions with any situation,” says Terry Seufert, the Goodwill’s director of program services. “We’re very proud of that.” The Houston Goodwill® launched its Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program six years ago, and quickly learned that different sectors of veterans had different needs. The agency has since developed additional programs for veterans, and now serves females who are homeless, individuals who have recently left the military and those who have been incarcerated. In situations where female veterans are homeless, an all-female staff works with both the veteran and her spouse to help establish a stable home for the entire family. “We needed to provide a safe environment where female veterans could move forward from what they went through and gain housing and employment,” Seufert says. Service members who have recently left the military often struggle to translate their skills and experience into civilian opportunities. The longer it takes for them to find work, the more at risk they are for chronic unemployment and homelessness. The Goodwill’s Veterans Workforce Investment Program helps these individuals to reframe their military experience into marketable skills. If needed, participants receive vocational training, although the goal is for them to earn jobs within six months. On average, participants earn an hourly wage of $13.50. Over time, the Goodwill also encountered a large percentage of veterans who had been incarcerated. With this in mind, staff members go into the facilities 18 months prior to an individual’s release and “plant the seeds” about what can be accomplished during incarceration. Three months prior to release, the work intensifies with résumé writing, and securing identification and housing. Then the job search begins. A business advisory council allows local professionals to conduct mock interviews, teach veterans how to dress for success, and help them honestly and professionally explain their incarceration and any gaps in employment. “To take someone who has made mistakes and see them have the self-respect to make something new in their lives is truly heartwarming,” Seufert says.

Community Partners Collaborate to Secure Success for Veterans

[caption id="attachment_14256" align="alignleft" width="235" caption="Vietnam Vet Carl Walker is outreach coordinator for the Vet Success program."][/caption] In February 2011, Goodwill of North Georgia (Atlanta) launched its Vet Success program, designed to reach veterans who have “fallen through the cracks.” Many veterans have documented disabilities but are waiting for their benefits to be approved. Vet Success helps in a variety of ways, such as assisting with the benefit enrollment process, providing job training, matching veterans with the right career paths for them, and offering support services to veterans with disabilities. Since the program’s inception, it has served 110 veterans and referred 24 to state vocational rehabilitation services. “There are a lot of vets out there who are really in need,” says Carl Walker, a Vietnam veteran with a disability and the program’s outreach coordinator. “It’s a real opportunity for me to reach out to other vets.” The Atlanta Goodwill® relies on its community partners to fully meet the needs of veterans. While Goodwill’s expertise is employment services, other local organizations, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, provide health care, housing assistance and more. Each week, the Goodwill hosts a roundtable, during which veterans can learn about available services. According to Jonathan Wilson, employment initiatives manager for Goodwill of North Georgia, one especially strong partnership involves the local state vocational rehabilitation office. When an individual schedules an appointment, it may take six months to see a counselor. However, when the Vet Success program refers a participant, that person is typically seen within 30 to 45 days. “We want to show people there’s hope and we’re here to help,” says Rashida Powell, the Goodwill’s communications specialist. Vietnam veteran Roderick Sexton currently participates in the Vet Success program. He met Walker at a job fair for veterans. The two exchanged information, and Walker called Sexton and invited him to a roundtable event. He’s working his way toward a warehousing career through the Goodwill’s hands-on training. “I was impressed with the professionalism and how they really take veterans’ interests to heart,” Sexton says. “It’s their actions, not just rhetoric. I’m grateful for the program and how it’s changed my life.”