Maurice thought his life was over after a shooting incident in a store left him totally blind. After connecting with Goodwill, he gained the confidence and skills he needed to re-enter the workforce and has now been working at a job he loves for nearly eight years.
Category: The Goodwill Blog
Two Valentine’s Day Gifts to Make from Goodwill® Finds
Here are two really great gifts you can make from Goodwill® finds. The candy dish is a sweet and easy project that can be assembled in a few minutes. The book gift is a little more involved, but is a nice, romantic surprise for a special sweetheart. Either way, that special someone will love these thoughtful Valentine's presents, and your purchases will help Goodwill create jobs for people in your local community -- a doubly sweet deal!
READ MORE from Two Valentine’s Day Gifts to Make from Goodwill® Finds
Two Valentine's Day Gifts to Make from Goodwill® Finds
Here are two really great gifts you can make from Goodwill® finds. The candy dish is a sweet and easy project that can be assembled in a few minutes. The book gift is a little more involved, but is a nice, romantic surprise for a special sweetheart. Either way, that special someone will love these thoughtful Valentine's presents, and your purchases will help Goodwill create jobs for people in your local community -- a doubly sweet deal!
READ MORE from Two Valentine's Day Gifts to Make from Goodwill® Finds
Unemployment: Are We Treating Symptoms or the Patient?
As the nation slowly recovers from the worst recession since the Great Depression, and concerns about the deficit remain front and center, some policymakers are tempted to consolidate the workforce system in the name of reform. While a case can be made that broad consolidation would lead to some savings and efficiencies, I believe — especially because several key laws are due for Congressional review — the current dialogue must shift from consolidation to promoting integration and collaboration among existing resources and programs.
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How to Use LinkedIn to Help You Find a Job
Julianne from Lawton, OK, asks, "I was talking to my uncle about how hard it is to find a job, and he said I should try getting on LinkedIn. I’ve used Facebook before – is it the same?” –
Goodwill® Team Member Returns Class Ring to Young Cancer Survivor
In mid-January, a store team member from Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin (Menasha) found and returned a young cancer survivor’s missing class ring. The Post-Crescent, a local newspaper, reported that Deirdra Moon, a team member at the Grand Chute store, was sorting through the donations when she spotted a 2013 class ring from Appleton West High School—Moon’s alma mater. It bore the word “survivor” and a yellow sarcoma cancer awareness ribbon.
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My Story: Justin Throckmorton
When Justin first started work, he struggled to understand appropriate boundaries and actively listen to directions from his supervisor. Goodwill's program gave him the structured setting he needed in order to build those skills, and he is now employed at a local supermarket. "Overall, Goodwill has helped me overcome many obstacles to obtain a job that I really love."
How to Incorporate Vintage Clothing into Your Workplace Wardrobe
Vintage clothing can be an excellent way to express your creativity and individuality -- even within the confines of your 9-to-5 job. Goodwill® is and always will be an excellent source to get these items inexpensively, due in part to their entrepreneurial business model of collecting and selling donated goods in its more than 2,800 stores and its auction site, shopgoodwill.com. To add a little vintage spice to your workplace wardrobe, consider these tips.
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Every Day Is Groundhog Day in Washington, DC
Millions of classic movie lovers will recall the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray, in which his egocentric character is doomed to repeat February 2 day after day. Just a couple hundred miles to the southeast in Washington, policymakers are living a real-life political version of the 1993 movie classic.
What You Should Know about Socializing with Colleagues after Work
Marcus from San Jose, CA, asks, “My boss and coworkers go out together almost every day after work for happy hour or dinner. I really don’t want to join them. Seeing them during the workday is enough. Is it bad if I skip out on these gatherings?”
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In WV, Goodwill®-Community College Partnership Helps Participants Build Skills, Advance Education
Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area and Mountwest Community and Technical College's partnership dates back to 2005, when an instructor was teaching a part-time computer class at MCTC and at Goodwill. She realized that the Goodwill participants were doing the same amount and caliber of work as the MCTC students, and believed they should earn the same college credit hours. As the organizations shared their expertise, an original one-course partnership grew to three tracks that now allow students to accumulate 12 credit hours or more at Goodwill.
My Story: Rachal Underwood
Rachal was willing to try any job after relocating to Los Angeles with her 2-year-old son. She connected with Goodwill's Beyond Jobs program, which helped connect her with CNA and Home Health Aide training. She is now employed and works as a nurse mentor for other women who were once in her shoes. "I am forever grateful," she says.
