Ways to Serve Your Community through Goodwill

Before his passing in 1942, Rev. Edgar J. Helms, Methodist minister and founder of Goodwill Industries International wrote, “Goodwill Industries is a business plus. It exists for service not profits.  Goodwill Industries is a social service plus.  It offers not alms but opportunities.”

Goodwill was created in 1902 by volunteers who took the idea of collecting used clothes, providing jobs to people who repaired them, and sold the items to fund services to the most vulnerable populations. The mission of Goodwill has held strong for 110 years through the service provided by leadership and staff, the volunteer efforts of board members, advocates, and others, and the generosity of our donors who support the donated goods enterprise.

As we reflect on the legacy of another reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the first family has called on Americans to continue the tradition they began four years ago with a National Day of Service.

Goodwill Industries International is honored to answer that call. Local Goodwill agencies are engaging volunteers on this day for a number of community service projects. In addition, Goodwill Industries International will be supporting Goodwill of Greater Washington in staffing an informational booth on the mall during inauguration weekend.

Here are some ideas for how you can make a difference through Goodwill on the National Day of Service and throughout the year:

• Donate Goods: When you donate your gently used goods, they are sold within your community. The revenue from your tax-deductible donation is used to fund job training programs and support services for people who face challenges to finding employment.
• Give a Gift: When you give a tax-deductible financial gift,  you can choose to support a local program in your community, to support programs across the U.S. and Canada, or to support our international development for emerging Goodwill agencies throughout the world.
• Lend Your Voice: When you lend your voice, you can join the conversation online or help advance our advocacy priorities by contacting your local member of Congress to take action.

We know that there are many different ways that you can serve your country and local community. Goodwill is especially appreciative of the ways in which you give back to us and allow us to serve those who need us most.