Every year during the first full week of May, local Goodwill® organizations across the U.S. and Canada celebrate Goodwill Week to shine a light on the Goodwill mission — transforming lives through the power of work.
This year, Goodwill Week runs May 7-13. Throughout the week, community-based Goodwill organizations will host events like job fairs, tours of career centers, awards ceremonies, retail store promotions, and other donor and customer appreciation events. These activities also serve as a great way to engage with community stakeholders and partners including lawmakers at the local, state, and federal level may be joining in these activities. Spreading awareness of Goodwill’s mission and programing is timely as the President and Congressional leaders are concerned with the impending debt limit while the House recently passed a measure including drastic cuts to job training and other critical programs.
While the U.S. economy is steadily improving and the national unemployment rate continues to decline, many individuals continue to struggle with poverty, homelessness, and lack of access to the resources they need to find and sustain good-paying jobs. That’s where Goodwill comes in. For more than 120 years, Goodwill organizations across North America have helped people find jobs, support their families, and feel the satisfaction that comes from working.
We currently have over 10 million job openings in the U.S.—but only 5.7 million unemployed workers. With more jobs available, we have an opportunity to provide job training and placement to those individuals in need of work.
When you support your local Goodwill, you are helping people earn jobs, advance their careers and care for their families in your community. Advocates play an extremely important role in our work as well. We need your voice to help educate lawmakers about the issues of concern to Goodwill and the communities which we serve. Visit our Legislative Action Center to learn about our policy issues and connect with your lawmakers. You can also help amplify our message by following the GII government relations team on twitter @GoodwillCapHill.
Your support helps us achieve our mission, not just during Goodwill Week – but every day of every week.
