Category: The Goodwill Blog

This upcoming Monday, January 15, local Goodwill organizations across the country will recognize Martin Luther King (MLK) Day. This holiday celebrates the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of America’s most prominent civil rights leaders. In addition to being a federal holiday, MLK Day is also designated as a national day of service. For many Americans MLK Day represents a "day on, not a day off," as they go into their neighborhoods and communities looking for volunteer and service opportunities.

READ MORE from Goodwill® Recognizes Martin Luther King Day: A Day of Service

Take advantage of the extra time on your hands throughout your golden years to learn and do all the things you always wanted to. The internet is an endless resource for learning new things about skills such as dog training, learning a language, and the culinary arts. When you learn new skills as a senior, you help improve your quality of life during your best years. Why wait? Start today!

READ MORE from Grow in Your Golden Years: Learn Fun New Skills Online

Returning to the workforce after extended leave is not an easy process for anyone, but it can be especially challenging for women. With technology moving faster every day and the skills gap getting bigger the longer you’re out of the workforce, women returning to the workforce after an extended leave may worry that they won’t have the skills necessary to keep up with the ever-changing landscape. Here are some examples of how you can return to work after an extended leave.

READ MORE from Advice for Women Re-entering the Workforce

We can all use a little help now and again, right? Awhile back we shared some tricks for unshrinking clothes and finding the best stuff at Goodwill and today we’ve got a follow-up post with some more tips for making your life easier. Ready? Let’s jump right in! Image via Beth Huntington How annoying is

READ MORE from Thrifty Life Hacks: Part 2

A mid-term election year can be a difficult one for Congress to accomplish a lot, however the GOP leadership of the 115th Congress and the Trump Administration have an ambitious to-do list for the year ahead. Budget issues and talk of a potential government shutdown are taking center stage this week as the government is funded only through January 19th. Congressional leaders from both parties and White House officials are holding a number of key strategy meetings to try and reach an agreement.

READ MORE from 2018 Congressional Priorities in Review

I believe that the people there saved my life. I think that YouthBuild Omaha helped me do a complete 180. They are the main reason for my success and what I do. They helped me and now I help others and it brings me a lot of comfort knowing that I can do good being all that had happened before I was a part of their program.

READ MORE from My Story: Michael Graham

As evidenced by previous posts, 2017 has been a year of transformation. From the ever-increasing sophistication and ubiquity of technology to the emergence of new economic and social trends, this year has been massive in the scope of its changes. This theme was certainly prevalent in the retail industry, which experienced multiple large-scale transformations over the year.

READ MORE from This Year in Retail

The end of the year is always the best time to reflect on our past accomplishments and to prepare for the challenges that await us the upcoming year. As 2017 quickly draws to close, the Goodwill Industries International (GII) government relations team is grateful for the work and effort of all Goodwill advocates. Because of your advocacy efforts we have been able to share the work and mission of local Goodwill organizations across the country.

READ MORE from 2017: Year in Review

Central to every holiday is at least one symbol, rich with meaning. Today we’ll be sharing a few projects that thrifters have constructed to celebrate their own traditions in their own way. Each would be a beautiful reason to spend time with your loved ones and practice the rituals of your heritage together.

READ MORE from Crafting Your Own Holiday Symbol

Though the latest news is changing by the hour, word this morning is that Congress will consider a short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. As the budget conversation moves further down the road, we are reminded of the programs at risk – programs funding for workforce development education and training that are more of a launching pad than a safety net – programs that help millions of individuals and families become self-sufficient and realize career opportunities. Cutting these programs from the budget would leave families, seniors, people with disabilities and others without options, struggling to make ends meet and to move forward.

READ MORE from Kicking the Can, Punting the Ball, Putting it On Layaway: Congress and the Budget

With the holidays wrapping up, most people are probably finishing their gift giving preparations. But as your list dwindles, are you left with one or two names of people who are classically hard to buy for? Today we have one helpful DIY gift idea that anyone could use, plus some online shopping inspiration!

READ MORE from Unique DIY Desk Calendar

Local Goodwill organizations have been environmentally and socially responsible, adhering to the ‘Triple Bottom Line’ of ‘People, Planet and Prosperity’ since before the term existed. Our founder Reverend Edgar J. Helms once said…“Goodwill saves the waste in men and things”.

READ MORE from Roots of Goodwill®’s Sustainability