Category: The Goodwill Blog

Goodwill Southern California (Los Angeles), along with the Department of Veterans Affairs and more than four dozen community partners, held its first Veteran Stand Down on October 10-11, at Los Angeles Historic Park. The event aimed to meet the basic needs of attendees by providing a variety of free services including meals, clothing, haircuts and makeovers, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to other services such as housing and employment for veterans and their families.

READ MORE from In CA, Goodwill Holds 'Stand Down' to Support Veterans

My favorite month has arrived – it’s October (woo!!) and that means one thing: costume time! Halloween is on the bend and costumes need to be picked out. This is a very serious time for me because there is nothing that I love more than dressing up. Honestly, there really is no better place to costume shop than thrift stores. Whether you have an idea of what you want to dress up as and need to grab assorted pieces to complete your look, or you’re completely clueless and need a last minute get-up, secondhand stores are the place to sort out the perfect costume!

READ MORE from Skip the Big Box: Thrift Stores Offer Halloween Costume Options for Less

Once again, Congressional leaders have reached a temporary last-minute deal to avert economic Armageddon. In other words, with Congress punting the ball, the game has been extended into another overtime period. While the media’s focus on these political dramas appears like bad reality TV, the real-world realities are felt in local communities served by Goodwill® agencies. From employment opportunities for people with significant disabilities, veterans services, low-income housing, income tax assistance programs and more, local Goodwill agencies, their employees, and the people Goodwill serves are experiencing the pinch caused by the recent government shutdown.

READ MORE from Congress Averts Economic Armageddon, but Shutdown Impacts Felt by Communities

Travis from West Orange, NJ, asks, “I hate when people ask me what I do for work. I like my job just fine, but most people think it’s boring and it usually grinds the conversation to a halt. What should I say?”

READ MORE from Beyond the Title: How to Talk about the Job You Do

Goodwill NDEAM Fashion Show 1Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey (Astoria) held its second annual fashion show to kick off National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) on October 1 at the agency’s East Harlem store. Goodwill Suits You 2013 was coordinated in conjunction with the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities using merchandise selected from local Goodwill stores by six popular fashion bloggers.

READ MORE from In New York, Goodwill® Fashion Show Kicks off National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Vincent, a sixth generation military service member, faced unemployment and homelessness after transitioning into civilian employment. He got a new start after connecting with Goodwill Industries of Houston. He says, "This program is a blessing, it really is. It has helped so many different people out in so many different situations. It’s a life‑changing experience. You get to start all over. It’s hard to imagine that anyone would have such a big heart or that a program out here in the United States would exist.

READ MORE from My Story: Vincent Barnes

Hey guys, its Marisa from New Dress A Day here! New York Fashion Week is over and the spring 2014 looks have made their way down the runway, however we’re just starting to gear up for fall! I’ve put together three big fall trends using pieces acquired at Goodwill. Mission impossible? Nah, just like Tom Cruise, I was successful -- and I didn’t have to scale any walls.

READ MORE from Recreate Three Fall Trends Using Thrift Store Finds

Clement from Akron, OH, “I am horrible at making decisions. I spend way too long researching information and weighing all of my options trying to make the right decision. How can I get better at this?”

READ MORE from How to Make a Decision

After transitioning out of the military, Rebecca tried to get an administrative job using the same skills she honed while in service, but encountered employers who were reluctant to hire someone without a degree. She connected with Goodwill in Orange County, where she found employment and regained her sense of self-sufficiency. "Goodwill provided me not only financial stability, but also training and education. I'm learning new skills every day and I’m honestly really happy to be there," she says.

READ MORE from My Story – Rebecca Gutierrez

This past weekend students from Ohio State University burned the midnight oil in an effort to encourage Goodwill Columbus (OH) employees to adapt healthy behavior through a mobile app. The development of the app occurred during a 24-hour “Code for Good” challenge sponsored by JPMorgan Chase and Co. “Code for Good” tasks students majoring in computer science, engineering and other related programs to create computer software solutions to the issues of social-service organizations. A total of about 70 students from 11 different colleges participated in the most recent event.

READ MORE from Tech Students Create Wellness App for Goodwill® in Columbus, OH

I’ve had many people tell me that they don’t have a creative bone in their body. For some people, creating art is easy; making things comes as naturally as breathing. For others, even if the intent and effort is there, it seems that crafting is just difficult. I like to share ideas that everyone can find success with, which is why we’ve got a fail-proof “easy art” project in this post. Try this painting technique with a spooky image (like a black cat) if you’re decorating for an upcoming Halloween party or just choose something that inspires you for regular year-round décor!

READ MORE from Set a Spooky Scene with This Easy Halloween Craft Project

Four days in, the government shutdown has resulted in heavy political posturing and little hope for a solution. In addition, the debt ceiling will soon be reached, adding yet another layer to a bitterly partisan fiscal fight. Clearly, these are difficult times. The optimist in me hopes that the current impasse will prove to be our leaders’ rock-bottom moment. Perhaps the self-inflicted damage caused by the shutdown, and God forbid, debt default would serve to show the brinksmen on both side of the aisle their error in putting politics in front of policy.

READ MORE from People and Communities Remain Offstage in Shutdown’s Political Theater