Category: The Goodwill Blog

During last year’s tax filing season, more than 27 million American families were refunded in excess of $62 billion by taking advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit, or the Earned Income Credit (EITC or EIC). However, each year, millions of families fail to take advantage of billions of dollars in EITC refunds that they are eligible to receive. If your family is considered low-income or medium-income by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), your family may be losing out on potential tax refund dollars.

READ MORE from This Tax Season, Take Advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit

Matthew from Norfolk, VA, asks, "How can I make my resume rise to the top of online job boards so that recruiters will notice me?"

READ MORE from Resume Keywords Can Help Online Recruiters Take Notice

Goodwill of North Georgia (Atlanta) runs two programs that train women in non-traditional jobs such as highway construction and carpentry: Women in Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations and Georgia Women in Highway Construction. Participants receive assistance in paying dues, obtaining transportation, obtaining apprenticeships, interview experience, resume preparation and more. “They really feel like [the program is] a brand-new start,” said Mandy Trowell, construction training program manager. “They knew they could do this, and they are just as tough as the men. Once they’ve gotten the job and maintained it, they’re able to really support their families for the first time in a lot of cases.”

READ MORE from In Atlanta, Goodwill® Helps Women Gain Employment in Traditionally Male-Dominated Fields

Casey was referred to Goodwill through her state's rehabilitation services office. After quickly learning how to process books, she also received training on how to process shoes and accessories. She says, "The best part about having a job is coming to work, meeting new people and coming out of my shell!"

READ MORE from My Story: Casey Harrington

March is the perfect example of an ‘in-between seasons’ month that can’t really decide whether it wants to be winter or spring. If you’re living in the Northeast like me, you’re probably fully ready for spring despite the weather’s overwhelming aversion to it. Regardless of whether the groundhog predicted an early spring or six more weeks of winter, there’s plenty you can do to reflect your anticipation for spring fashion now. Here is some advice for invigorating your wardrobe during the tricky month of March.

READ MORE from Transition Your Wardrobe from Winter to Spring with These Tips

Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to consider the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act (H.R. 803). The bill proposes to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) while consolidating 35 job training programs in a single block grant to states. On March 6, 2013, the House Education and the Workforce Committee passed the bill 23-0. Democratic members of the committee walked out on the vote to protest the partisan process being used to advance the bill.

READ MORE from Action Needed to Prevent One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Job Training

Kellen from Portland, OR, asks"I'm just out of school and am getting ready to go on my first job interview. I'm struggling with what to wear."

READ MORE from What Not to Wear When Attending a Job Interview

Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes (London), is in the process of opening a new $3.6 million, 113,000-square-foot Centre for Social Enterprise and the Environment that will offer job training, provide new jobs and help reduce the amount of donations that go to landfills. The goal is to achieve ‘zero waste’ by lowering the current rate of 17 percent to less than 10 percent.

READ MORE from Ontario Goodwill Opens New Environmental Center to Achieve Goal of ‘Zero Waste’

Robert was struggling to take care of his family after his father's passing, when he was referred to Goodwill. After learning and succeeding at a variety of tasks, he rose to the position of dock attendant. "I really take pride in my work," he says.

READ MORE from My Story: Robert Johns

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) has noted concerns that the skills gap makes it difficult for employers to fill jobs with qualified workers and that the more than 50 federal job training programs present a complicated maze for job seekers to navigate. In response to these concerns, Rep. Foxx has introduced the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act, which proposes to eliminate 35 job training programs into a single one-size-fits-all block grant to states. Tell Congress to set aside old disagreements to build upon the strengths of existing programs to develop a broad workforce system that serves employers and businesses, serves people, and contributes to building stronger families and communities.

READ MORE from Tell Congress to Put Job Seekers' Needs above Partisan Differences

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) has noted concerns that the skills gap makes it difficult for employers to fill jobs with qualified workers and that the more than 50 federal job training programs present a complicated maze for job seekers to navigate. In response to these concerns, Rep. Foxx has introduced the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act, which proposes to eliminate 35 job training programs into a single one-size-fits-all block grant to states. Tell Congress to set aside old disagreements to build upon the strengths of existing programs to develop a broad workforce system that serves employers and businesses, serves people, and contributes to building stronger families and communities.

READ MORE from Tell Congress to Put Job Seekers’ Needs above Partisan Differences

People often joke with me as a professional organizer wondering if I can “fix” spouses and get them organized, but the truth is that I can’t. While I can certainly clear an area temporarily, I would not want to do it without someone’s permission. I also know that if a person doesn’t want to make changes to daily habits, the work will quickly become undone. Someone has to want to change and be ready before any kind of improvement program will work. Here are a couple of “typical” husband and wife zones that are excellent projects to start.

READ MORE from His-and-Hers Organizing: Can You Fix My Spouse?