Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced the bill (S. 2037) (PDF) on January 26 and highlighted several provisions in the legislation, including those intended to strengthen and expand the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).

Since 2006, Goodwill Industries International has been a national SCSEP grantee, helping seniors grow skills, land a job and earn an income. In addition, several local Goodwill® agencies are involved in SCSEP through state grants.

The bill calls for significant investments in four key areas – including at least $660 million for FY 2013 to support SCSEP. While SCSEP’s FY 2012 appropriation is $450 million, the larger proposed amount could improve prospects for increased funding levels in the future. However, such an increase is unlikely in the near future considering current concerns over debt and the deficit.

The proposal also addresses some of GII’s key priorities for reauthorization, including expanding pilot and demonstration authority to test sector strategies, and maintaining the 48-month durational limit of the program, and continuing with the structure of grant competition and data collection.

The bill would also require the Assistant Secretaries on Aging from the U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a study on the feasibility of transferring the program from DOL to HHS’s Administration on Aging.

To date, Senators Casey (D-Penn.), Kohl (D-Wis.), Franken (D-Minn.), and Klobuchar (D-Minn.) have also introduced OAA reauthorization bills, and are expected to work together to craft a bill reflecting their priorities in the coming months.

While GII is currently evaluating how these proposals might affect its SCSEP programs, we look forward to working with Congress to reauthorize the OAA so that older workers can continue to receive the job-training skills they need to return to work.

Goodwill, which operates more than 2,600 stores throughout the United States and Canada, will have the opportunity to use FLW’s resources to drive traffic to its locations and educate millions of fishing fans on Goodwill’s mission of helping people find jobs. Goodwill will receive exposure across all of FLW’s platforms, including its tournaments and Expos, multiple websites, FLW Bass Fishing and FLW Walleye Fishing magazines and the “FLW” television show on NBC Sports Network. “FLW” is broadcast Sundays in high-definition (HD) to more than 559 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.

Professional angler Chad Grigsby of Maple Grove, Minn., will continue to represent Goodwill on the FLW Tour. Grigsby is a 10-year veteran of the FLW Tour with more than $600,000 in career earnings and 10 top-10 finishes. His recent win at Kentucky/Barkley lakes during 2011 FLW Tour competition netted him $125,000.

“I’m very proud to be affiliated with Goodwill,” said Grigsby. “Goodwill agencies across the country make a positive impact in local communities through their job training programs and services, including financial education and youth mentoring, which strengthens families, neighborhoods and the communities we live in.”

Goodwill will also have the opportunity to set up displays to promote its employment programs, which served three million people in 2011. These programs will be promoted at FLW Expos held in conjunction with FLW Tour stops, championship events and other additional tournaments held across the country.

“The relationship formed between FLW and Goodwill has demonstrated how a unique partnership can benefit both organizations and our communities,” said Trisha Blake, president of FLW Marketing Division. “FLW strives to leave every community we visit a better place, and the partnership with Goodwill and their multiple programs helps make that goal a reality, not only for the FLW Tour, but for all 191 event stops in 2012.”

In addition, FLW and Goodwill have created the Forrest L. Wood Sportsmanship and Community Leadership Award that will be presented to the FLW Tour pro that best displays an overall commitment of sportsmanship and community leadership during the 2012 season. The annual award will recognize the individual based on ethical behavior, upholding integrity, class, selflessness, conservation efforts and kindness to others both on and off the water. Self or peer nominations will be accepted. A Goodwill and FLW committee will narrow the nominees and unveil the winner to the community at the Forrest Wood Cup in Duluth, Ga. Aug. 9-12.

“The partnership between Goodwill and FLW educates members of the community on how Goodwill’s job training and career advancement programs can help them grow their employment skills,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Thanks to FLW’s generosity and cooperative spirit, Goodwill has the opportunity to reach future donors and shoppers who can expand our employment placement programs as well as people who need our career services. As a result, we will be able to serve more people in communities across the country.”

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with 14 affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of North America’s top five most valuable and recognized nonprofit brands as well as a leading social services enterprise (Source: Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100, 2009). Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 2,600 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2011, three million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill’s career services. Goodwill channels 84 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services. To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Twitter: @GoodwillIntl. Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

ABOUT FLW
FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to our sponsors, fans and host communities. FLW is offering anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2012 over the course of 191 tournaments across five tournament circuits, each providing an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the “Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water,” through a variety of platforms including tournaments, outdoor expos and the world’s richest fantasy sports game – FLW Fantasy Fishing. For more information about FLW and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter and Facebook.

Contact:
Charlene Sarmiento
Goodwill Industries International
Senior Public Relations Specialist
(240)-333-5590
charlene.sarmiento@goodwill.org

Julie Huber
FLW
Communications Specialist
(612) 812-9512 cell
julie.huber@jacobs-mgmt.com

“I’ve heard of green jobs and supported clean energy organizations that create jobs for folks. What other areas create green jobs for workers?” – Shawn from Phoenix, AZ

Answer:

Your support of clean energy organizations is a great way to empower the creation of jobs that do not deplete our natural resources or destroy our environment.

Types of Green Jobs

Energy efficiency is another big sector that is creating green jobs nationally. Jobs such as energy auditors, energy concierges, smart meter installers, and weatherization technicians are some positions you can look in to if you’re interested in getting involved in this field.

Locally there are public, private, and non-profit sector initiatives that are creating green jobs that promote sustainability. Consider the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) definition of green jobs, which says positions are doing green work if they are:

1. Jobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources
2. Jobs in which workers’ duties involve making their establishment’s production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources

Following this definition, the factory worker who manufactures bamboo (a renewable resource that does not deplete forests) flooring, cabinetry and countertops, and the sales representative for the company that installs these items both have green jobs.

A facilities manager who procures appliances/machines that are energy efficient, sources supplies that are produced sustainably, and teaches employees how to conserve water and recycle items responsibly has a green job too.

Goodwill and the Green Jobs Sector

And don’t forget, Goodwill creates and trains for green jobs as well!

Goodwill diverts more than two billion pounds of clothing and household goods every year from landfills by recovering the value in people’s unwanted material goods. Goodwill’s material handlers and donation processors ensure that the goods donated to our stores are sorted appropriately so that items that should be recycled are treated differently than items that can be sold.

We are also proud to have trained people all over the country to enter the renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green construction industries through a Department of Labor grant. Some of our graduates are assessing the energy use of residences; weatherizing bird sanctuaries, installing solar thermal systems; and fabricating ducts for high efficiency heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to maximize efficiency of systems — just to name a few.

Be a Green Jobs Generator

Finally, remember that you can help create green jobs by continuing to demand goods and services that promote sustainable practices.

Consider purchasing items that are grown locally and with sustainable practices; the increased demand for such food will create local jobs for the labor-intensive work of producing food without pesticides.

Additionally, taking public transportation or supporting local policies that increase transit projects will create jobs for drivers, conductors, mechanics, engineers, construction workers, cement masons, concrete finishers, electricians, form builders, iron workers and power equipment operators.

It’s not difficult to see that when we think about how to protect our resources and promote practices that allow us to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, there’s plenty of work to do.

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.

I first came to Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania as a single mom, surviving on welfare with limited work experience and little computer and office skills.

I knew I needed to obtain knowledge in computer and office skills and gain real-life work experience in order to obtain steady, full-time employment, but wasn’t sure what industry of the workforce I wanted to enter into.

Goodwill’s Customer Service Supply Chain (CSSC) program was the perfect fit for me because the curriculum consisted of computer classes, which helped me to quickly become proficient in the MS Office Suite, as well as real-life education like how to manage a budget and set realistic goals.

I was so grateful for all that I learned and all those who taught me that, after graduating from the program, I simply didn’t want to leave! Luckily there was a part-time receptionist position open, and now that I had the office skills required and high recommendations from my instructor and case manager, I decided to apply, and got the job.

Although I was enjoying my new receptionist position and learning new skills every day, I was still determined to find full-time employment. After working as a part-time receptionist for about one year, yet another window of opportunity opened up for me! A full-time administrative assistant position opened up in the marketing department and I was confident that I had the skills necessary to apply.  Guess what? I got the job!

I have been at Goodwill for nearly five years now and am excited about future opportunities that could become available to me once I obtain my associate degree in marketing management in 2014.

I will always remember where I started and be grateful for those at Goodwill who have supported me along the way. Thanks to Goodwill’s life changing programs and dedicated staff, I am now a single-mom working full-time, with medical benefits, my own apartment, a car, and a life that I can be proud of. Goodwill has also helped me achieve my most important goal of all, to be a positive role model for my daughter.

Hear more stories from people like Gabi »

American workers with low to moderate incomes may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a federal tax credit that provides a financial boost for employees in a recovering economy. In recognition of EITC Awareness Day, Goodwill® is encouraging people who earned less than $49,078 to see if they qualify for EITC. In doing so, they could receive as much as a $5,751 tax credit from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Even if they do not need to file federal tax returns based on salary, these workers must still file in order to claim the credit.

As part of Goodwill’s partnership with the IRS, more than 100 Goodwill agencies nationwide are promoting the EITC in their local communities. In addition, eighty-nine local Goodwill agencies are operating Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites to provide free tax preparation services to workers who qualify for the EITC. Through its efforts, Goodwill aims to help workers use this tax credit to keep more of their paychecks and provide more financial stability for themselves and their families.

“Only four out of five eligible Americans claim and receive the Earned Income Tax Credit, “ said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Goodwill’s VITA sites provide the free services individuals, with our without children, need to claim the tax credit they have already earned.”

The EITC has been in existence for more than 37 years. It is essential that workers research to find out if they qualify, especially if their financial, marital and parental statuses have changed in the past year. The tax credit can mean a tax return of up to $5,751, a vital amount that will help families pay for household expenses like childcare or housing, and it can also be put toward long-term investments such as a college education or retirement. The IRS estimates that certain populations who qualify for the EITC may be missing out on thousands of dollars each year by not filing for this credit. These include the following workers who are living in rural areas; self employed; receiving certain disability pensions or have children with disabilities; not proficient in English; grandparents raising their grandchildren; recently divorced, unemployed or have experienced other changes to their marital, financial or parental status; as well as those who do not have a qualifying child.

Goodwill’s mission is to provide job training, and career and community-based services to people with disabilities, those who lack education or work experience and others who face challenges to finding employment. Goodwill aims to not only help people earn jobs, but also to encourage them to take advantage of the services and tax credits they’ve earned to strengthen their financial stability and better care for their families.

Goodwill advises people to steer clear of refund anticipation loans (RALs), which rank among the most avoidable tax-time expenses. According to the Consumer Federation of America and the National Consumer Law Center, RALs — short-term, high-interest loans — drained $664 million from the pockets of nearly 7.2 million American taxpayers in 2009.

“Millions of workers will qualify for the EITC for the first time this year and it may provide a family the financial boost it needs to live above the poverty line,” said Gibbons. “Goodwill wants workers with low and moderate incomes, including those who come from rural or non-traditional families, to inquire about and claim this valuable tax credit.”

To learn more about EITC or to see if you qualify, visit the IRS’s EITC homepage.

Washington, D.C. – In conjunction with “EITC Awareness Day,” national policy and advocacy organizations gathered Thursday to laud the many ways the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps families, communities and local economies.

In these particularly difficult economic times, it’s crucial that all families who are eligible for the EITC actually claim it, said Jackie Lynn Coleman, Executive Director of the National Community Tax Coalition, which was joined by about a dozen partners in co-hosting a Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill.

 “About one in five households eligible for the EITC don’t claim it, leaving much-needed money on the table,” Coleman said. “NCTC and our partners are working to maximize awareness of the credit and alleviate some of the heavy tax responsibility borne by struggling, working families.”

“Goodwill encourages workers with low and moderate incomes to inquire about and claim the Earned Income Tax Credit if they qualify,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International, one of twelve organizations co-hosting the event with NCTC. “Goodwill volunteers offer free tax preparation services in certain communities and have prepared more than 31,000 tax returns; helping workers increase their financial stability and strengthen their families.”

Conceived originally by the Nixon Administration and established in 1975, the EITC is a refundable tax credit available to low- and moderate-income working families. The credit long has been praised as one of the most effective ways to prevent families from falling into poverty and financial deterioration.

Due to its success in rewarding working families who are struggling to make ends meet – the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates the EITC kept about 6 million people out of poverty in 2010 – the EITC has been strengthened several times. Along with other vital tax credits, the EITC was improved upon again in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Without Congressional action, these improvements will expire at the end of 2012.
 
NCTC – the country’s largest network of organizations offering free tax preparation services to low-income, working families – released a new report Thursday highlighting the importance of the credit for boosting families’ health and education outcomes as well as the vitality of local economies.  NCTC was joined at the briefing by:

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Corporation for Enterprise Development
Community Action Partnership
Doorways to Dreams Fund
Goodwill Industries International
National Disability Institute
New America Foundation
One Economy Corporation
First Nations Oweesta Corporation
RESULTS
Tax Credits for Working Families
United Way Worldwide

The EITC has long enjoyed broad-based community support in its effort to promote and reward working families who are struggling to make ends meet. In addition to NCTC’s congressional briefing, community-based organizations around the country are airing television and radio commercials, hosting events and inviting elected officials to visit tax sites as part of the Internal Revenue Service’s annual “EITC Awareness Day,” which falls this year on Jan. 27.

The EITC has also been critical in supporting traditionally underserved communities, including rural populations, Native Americans and persons with disabilities. “One in three persons with disabilities lives in poverty, nearly double the national average. National Disability Institute, working with NCTC and hundreds of our national and local partners, has helped persons with disabilities take steps out of poverty by fostering understanding that claiming and receiving the EITC will not jeopardize public benefits,” said Dr. Johnette Hartnett, Director of Strategic Partnerships for National Disability Institute.

In addition to Coleman, speakers at Thursday’s briefing included:

•           Sara Johnson – Director, Baltimore CASH Campaign
•           Jana Barresi – Manager of Federal Government Relations, Wal-Mart Corporation
•           David Rothstein – Researcher, Policy Matters Ohio and New America Foundation
•           Matt Weir – Executive Staff, National Taxpayer Advocate’s Office

The National Community Tax Coalition is a national network dedicated to strengthening economies, building communities and improving lives through tax assistance and asset building activities that produce financial security, protect families and promote economic justice.

For a copy of NCTC’s new paper, “The EITC: Good for Our Families, Community & Economy,” please visit http://bit.ly/z0qgbM.

Contact:

Dan Fair
National Community Tax Coalition
312-346-6282 ext. 248
dfair@tax-coalition.org

Charlene Sarmiento
Goodwill Industries International
240-333-5590
charlene.sarmiento@goodwill.org

On Tuesday evening, U.S. President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address to Congress, outlining messages that are likely to form the foundation for his reelection campaign.

The president’s speech acknowledged that, at a time when unemployment is stubbornly declining from the highest rates experienced in a generation, growing industries in science and technology can’t find workers with the right skills to perform the jobs they need to fill, resulting in twice as many openings as workers who can do the job.

The remark provides context for the administration’s Blueprint for an America Built to Last (PDF) also unveiled on Tuesday evening. The blueprint includes several proposals that aim to help workers to attain the skills they need to fill millions of mid- and high-level skilled positions in industries ranging from healthcare to advanced manufacturing, and clean energy to information technology.

While short on details, such proposals include:

• Building partnerships between community colleges and business to train and place two million skilled workers
• Reforming job training and Unemployment Insurance to help put Americans back to work
• Keeping students in high school
• Putting veterans to work protecting our communities and preserving our natural resources

“With or without this Congress, I will keep taking actions that help the economy grow,” he noted, hinting that these proposals may result in legislation as when he unveiled the American Jobs Act last year. He also suggested he would implement many of his plans through executive orders, as done recently through the White House’s We Can’t Wait campaign.

Goodwill® has a long history in helping people find jobs and advance in careers, Last year, Goodwill raised more than $4 billion in its retail operations and other self-sustaining social enterprises, investing more than 84 percent of these revenues to support efforts similar to several proposals outlined in the Blueprint for an America Built to Last. Goodwill’s efforts include enhanced partnerships with community colleges, mentoring programs, and a renewed commitment to hiring and serving more veterans.

As the leading private partner with the workforce system, we look forward to more details about the administration’s new proposals and how these plans will leverage community-based stakeholders like Goodwill.

Media Advisory

As Tax-Filing Season Begins, National Organizations Host “EITC Awareness Day” Briefing

WHAT: A policy briefing for Members of Congress, their staff and news media. Speakers will address the ways in which the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) brings value to not only individuals and working families, but also to entire communities, local economies and the nation as a whole.  The event comes in conjunction with the IRS’ annual “EITC Awareness Day,” being celebrated this year on Jan. 27.

A new paper on the EITC will be released at the briefing, highlighting research on the credit’s many strengths and laying-out policy priorities for its preservation as EITC improvements expire in 2012.

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Room 121, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC

WHO: Hosted by the National Community Tax Coalition and advocacy partners, including:

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Corporation for Enterprise Development
Community Action Partnership
Doorways to Dreams Fund
Goodwill Industries International
National Disability Institute
New America Foundation
One Economy Corporation
First Nations Oweesta Corporation
RESULTS
Tax Credits for Working Families
United Way Worldwide

Speakers will include

• Jackie Lynn Coleman – Executive Director, National Community Tax Coalition
• Sara Johnson – Director, Baltimore CASH Campaign
• Jana Barresi – Manager of Federal Government Relations, Wal-Mart Corporation
• David Rothstein – Researcher, Policy Matters Ohio and New America Foundation

WHY: The EITC is the nation’s most successful policy tool for preventing families from falling into poverty.  Yet one in five eligible families fail to claim it – and recent improvements strengthening the credit will expire in 2012, without Congressional action.

It’s critical that we protect and build upon the credit – or risk erosion in the research-proven ways in which the EITC strengthens both the educational and health outcomes of working families and local economies and business.

Contact:
Dan Fair
National Community Tax Coalition
312-346-6282 ext. 248
dfair@tax-coalition.org

Charlene Sarmiento
Goodwill Industries International
240-333-5590
charlene.sarmiento@goodwill.org

“How can I get help filing my taxes and be sure that I get all the tax credits that I qualify for?” — Rita from Corpus Christi, TX

Answer

While tax time can be stressful for many of us, it is also a great opportunity to get money back and boost your finances. To make the most of your tax refund this year, be sure to take advantage of free and low-cost services to file your taxes, and claim all of the credits for which you are eligible.

Get Free Help Filing Your Taxes

According to the International Revenue Service (IRS), more than 80 percent of taxpayers pay agencies to prepare their taxes or purchase tax preparation software. That is money you can use to pay bills and save for future expenses such as retirement or education.

If you make $49,000 or less, you are eligible to go to your nearest Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site where you can meet with a trained VITA volunteer who will prepare your taxes for free. Many IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites have also incorporated asset planning so you and your family can learn money management and financial planning skills to spend your refund wisely.

If you make $58,000 or less, check out the IRS Free File option where you can e-file your federal return at no cost.

Claim Your Tax Credits

Did you know that if you earned around $49,000 or less, you may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)? The EITC is a refundable federal tax credit for people who work full or part time but earn low or moderate wages, and can help you earn a tax credit worth up to around $5,700.

In addition to seeing if you qualify for the EITC, make sure to ask yourself these questions before you file your taxes this year:

• Do you have children? Working parents can claim up to $1,000 for each child under 17 with the Child Tax Credit (CTC). If you have been working and paying for child care, the Child and Dependent Care Credit can help you cover those expenses as well.
• Are you a student or have students in your household? The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and Lifetime Learning Credit are available to students to help cover many education expenses..
• Have you purchased a home in the past year? Make sure to claim Homebuyer Credit that can be worth up to $8,000 for first-time home owners and $3,250 for married individuals filing separately.
• Are you saving for your future? If you make eligible contributions to a qualified IRA, 401(k) or other retirement plans, you may be eligible for the Savers Credit that is worth up to $1,000 or $2,000 if filing jointly.
• Are you just learning about tax credits? Don’t forget to claim your EITC and CTC refunds for up to three previous years!

To check if you qualify for EITC and other tax credits, visit the IRS’s web site at www.irs.gov/eitc.

If you or a friend needs free tax preparation services, please call your local Goodwill agency or the IRS VITA hotline at (800) 906-9887. Good luck!

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.

I had retired from Lowe’s and thought that it would be the perfect time for me to enjoy free time and time with my family. I soon realized that I was not ready to exit the work world completely. Though I enjoyed being home, I felt I still had more to give.

Once I began my job search, I realized that I wasn’t seeing the whole picture. There were jobs out there that I didn’t have access to because I was not looking online. There were jobs that, despite the felony in my background, I knew I could get.

Someone told me about Goodwill® and how they help people in my situation. I decided to give them a call, and I am so glad I did. They gave me the opportunity to learn more computer skills and to be able to research jobs on my own and make me more independent in this process. They also connected me to potential employers and taught me invaluable skills of communication and networking.

I would recommend Goodwill to anyone who is facing some barrier to finding a job. They were very helpful in helping me find my current job, and also helping me learn what I needed to do to overcome my past.

Hear more stories from people like Calvin »

Your Morning to “DEW” List

We recommend paying attention to the “morning D.E.W.,” which stands for Dishes, Eating, and Wash. “Dishes” refers to putting all of your clean dishes away. “Eating” refers to the classic question, “What’s for dinner?” Make a decision about dinner before it’s a stressful problem at 6:00 p.m. Put out something to thaw, start a slow cooker meal, or chop some onions while you make your scrambled eggs. And “wash” means taking your laundry to the next step, whether it’s folding, washing, or drying.

Do the Triple S Before You Get Your ZZZs

At night we recommend the “Triple S” routine: Start the dishwasher, Straighten up, and Set for tomorrow.  If you are going to put the dishes away in the morning, the dishwasher needs to run when you’re asleep. Straightening up means doing a quick 5-10 minute clutter patrol, focusing on flat surfaces and floors. And setting for tomorrow means getting anything ready ahead of time that you can to help you get out the door faster. Tasks involving your children can often be done ahead of time, like getting their school papers ready, choosing their clothes or packing their lunches.

Create a Destination Station

Establish a place near where you enter and exit the house that can hold your keys, your purse or briefcase, kids’ school and practice items, sunglasses and items that need to be taken out for errands. Having a home for these items will save lots of wasted time looking for lost things, especially when you’re in a hurry!

Communicate More Easily

With a fuller schedule, you may need to start coordinating calendars more frequently with your spouse or caregiver. Using Google Calendar or another online option makes it easy to share your schedule with others, and if needed, you can usually synchronize it with other popular applications like Outlook. Also, if you have a new work environment, make sure you understand the rules about text messages and phone calls from your family during work hours.

Sunday Planning Saves You Time and Stress

Once a week, we recommend doing your “Sunday Planning.” You can do it at any time, but we like Sunday because mostly families have some down time on that day of the week. You can figure out these five things:

• Calendars — What’s going on this week?
• Carpool — Who is taking whom where and when?
• Cooking — What’s for dinner, and what groceries do we need to buy?
• Chores — Who is doing the dishes and other cleaning?
• Children — Who is helping with homework and doing bath and bedtime routines?

If you need help finding work so that you can get back to these kinds of habits and routines, remember that Goodwill’s mission is to provide job-related services and opportunities to anyone facing barriers to employment. You can find your nearest Goodwill job help center at http://locator.goodwill.org/.

The authors credit the 2009 federal stimulus package for improving the employment situation, noting conditions would otherwise be much worse. However, the study also shows that although unemployment is falling, the data may be skewed as an increasing number of people give up their job search and are no longer counted in the unemployment rate.

The United States has faced a 27 percent increase in poverty between 2006 and 2010. In 2010, there were over 45 million people living in poverty, about 15 percent of the U.S. population. Furthermore, more than four million Americans report being unemployed for more than 12 months.

Many different subgroups have seen increases in poverty, especially Hispanics and African Americans. Poverty is greater among children than seniors, and greater among female-headed households. There has also been surprising growth in poverty among working-age adults, especially those between the ages of 18 and 34.

The report takes into account the official federal measure of poverty and a new supplemental measure (which accounts for geographical differences in the cost of living), when highlighting the 10 states with the highest poverty growth in percentage points: Florida, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, California, Connecticut, South Carolina, and Minnesota/North Carolina/Wyoming (tied for 10^th).

The study warns that if Congress does not protect benefits for the long-term unemployed, and continues to make cuts to social safety net programs while reducing state fiscal relief, the poverty situation will worsen. The U.S. Congressional Budget Office assumes the economy will not be at full employment until 2017, thus the next five years is already forecasted to be a period of continued economic hardship.

With agencies on the front-lines providing training and employment opportunities to the long-term unemployed and families in poverty, Goodwill looks forward to working with Congress and the Administration to help Americans during these hard times, specifically through reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Act, the Workforce Investment Act, and the Older Americans Act.