Category: The Goodwill Blog

When the cold weather hits there’s nothing better than putting on a classic favorite movie and spending some quality time indoors. Winter months bring space for curling up on the couch with family and friends, a cozy blanket and a nice warm drink. It’s no wonder that one of the season’s biggest trends is bringing the spotlight onto creative drinks and drink stations – something that’s easy to transform a small corner of the kitchen into that also makes a daily ritual of pouring a hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate all the more enjoyable.

READ MORE from The DIY Winter Décor Trend That’s Taking Instagram By Storm

As 2021 comes to an end, it’s a good time to reflect on where we’ve been, to celebrate our successes and to plan for the future. We’ve been through a lot this year as a country – an attack on our democracy, a transition in Congress and the Administration, an ongoing pandemic, damage from storms and fires, and social injustices. We’ve been through a lot as a nonprofit sector and as an organization – furloughs, declines in donations, shifts in service delivery and now staffing shortages as we begin to recover.

READ MORE from The Year in Review and Resolutions Ahead

The changing of the seasons brings to mind a strange perception of time – especially in the wake of the last year and a half. Time sometimes seems to move so slowly, other times more so like you blink and somehow weeks or months have gone by. It can be hard to anchor ourselves in the present, especially when it can be so unpredictable, but by letting yourself focus on the small things, the little moments that together make up our lives, you might find a way to become more grounded and appreciate what’s around you right then and there in the moment.

READ MORE from Bring Winter Vibes into Your Home with These Goodwill Décor Hacks

It’s easy to get in a style rut in the winter. It gets dark early, it’s colder, it’s cloudy and gray. And since all we want to do is curl up in blankets and drink eggnog, it’s easy to forget that anything but gray sweatpants even exist.

READ MORE from Winter Mix-and-Match

On the heels of Giving Tuesday, Goodwill Industries International joins our partners in the Charitable Giving Coalition in calling on Congress to expand charitable giving incentives to all taxpayers. Since 2012, Giving Tuesday has marked the beginning of the year-end season of giving, during which Americans display unmatched generosity through charitable donations.

READ MORE from Support Universal Charitable Giving

Recently named Goodwill Achiever of the Year, Michael Blanton is a testament of hope to those looking to overcome obstacles and recreate their lives. When he was released from prison with no place to go and no money, Michael had a long road ahead of him.

READ MORE from My Story: Michael Blanton

As we reflect on the things for which we are thankful during this holiday season, we at Goodwill Industries International are giving thanks for you — our advocates.

READ MORE from Giving Thanks to Our Advocates

Goodwill Industries of New Mexico has partnered with Albuquerque Public Schools for a new offering of its special education program. The unique program, called Shop, allows students to fix old or damaged furniture found at Goodwill and other local stores and refurbish it with creative and colorful designs.

READ MORE from Students with Autism are Refurbishing Furniture in Albuquerque

As we transition into the chillier months of the fall and winter seasons, it's a great time to get creative with our thrifting. Check out these three fantastic ways you can keep your fashion fresh during the colder months, especially as we continue to persevere through the pandemic.

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For many American workers, participation in an apprenticeship program offers an invaluable pathway to a rewarding career with good wages. Local Goodwill® organizations have a long history of partnering with employers and community colleges to facilitate innovative apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. These structured earn-and-learn models combine occupational training, classroom instruction, access to support services, and opportunities for paid work experience with employers that prepare program participants, particularly those facing barriers to employment, for long-term career success.

READ MORE from Apprenticeships Provide a Pathway to Rebuilding America

From the minister who hired individuals to mend, and repair used goods, to the servicemen and women who put their lives on the line to protect the freedom, democracy, rights, and privileges of our great country, these individuals are an integral part to a community’s ability to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. Within this group, is Kevin Ricksy.

READ MORE from My Story: Kevin Ricksy

Veterans Day is a time to reflect on the service and sacrifices of our nation’s veterans and military family members. President Joe Biden recently signed a proclamation designating November as National Veterans and Military Families Month. “To those who serve and those that serve alongside them — their families and caregivers — we owe a debt we can never fully repay,” said Biden. “We as a nation have a sacred obligation to properly equip and prepare our troops when we send them in to harm’s way and to support them and their families, both while they are deployed and when they return home.”

READ MORE from Recognizing Veterans and Military Families in November