Identify Your Financial Goals

Today, I attended the first Annual National Financial Goal Day kickoff, hosted by The Financial Clinic, to launch financial goals. Goodwill is a partner with The Financial Clinic, whose mission is to improve financial mobility for the working poor.

Color Crush: Citron

Here in New England, autumn is saturating our leaves with its most glorious tones. Every year, I’m in awe of the colors being produced, but once in awhile, I find a new obsession with one shade in particular. Even if it’s an old familiar hue, I’ll suddenly see it in a new way that has me wishing I could redecorate my whole house to capture its mood. Of course, I don’t have the time or money to undertake such a restructuring, so I have to find other ways to bring the color-du-jour into my life. This year, I’m head over heels for the bright, lemony look of citron that I’ve seen adorning some of my local branches. It’s not a color that is often associated with fall, but in my neck of the woods (quite literally) it’s really been catching my eye.

Goodwill Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Goodwill Industries International is proud to join service providers, advocacy groups and employers among other stakeholders, in acknowledging the importance of employees with disabilities as a vital component of the U.S. labor force. This year’s theme, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor — “My Disability Is One Part of Who I Am” — underscores the fact that employees with disabilities bring a wide variety of skills to the table. However, it is evident that more work needs to be done to educate employers and support people with disabilities. Approximately one in five Americans has a disability and they make up nearly 20 percent of America’s workforce, yet their unemployment rate is more than twice that of workers without disabilities.

My Story: Patricia “Pachi” McLeod

My name is Pachi McLeod. As the Hispanic Services Manager [at Goodwill Industries of Southern Rivers (Columbus GA)], I get to provide services for the community, but I also get to support the bilingual staff at their different locations, and I get to be a kind of the bridge between the Hispanics and non-Hispanics alike.

Dress Up Your Furriest Friends for Halloween

How’s your Halloween planning going so far? If you can believe it, only a matter of weeks stand between you and one of the spookiest – and most entertaining – nights of the year! As for me, I’m still in the idea stage of my costume and décor planning (I’d better get moving!), so I’ve been spending some time lately brainstorming ideas (read: Googling).

FY 2016 Budget: Tell Congress to “Raise the Caps”

Yesterday, Congress passed H.R. 719, a continuing resolution (CR) that keeps the lights on in the federal government for another ten weeks. Since 2001, Congress has approved dozens of CRs, some just to keep the lights on in order to resolve a few issues in one or two appropriations bills, but at other times like yesterday because Congress hadn’t approved a single funding bill.

My Story: Josh MrKvicka

Despite some challenges stemming from a intellectual disability, Josh MrKvicka completed high school and looked forward to the next step…a job! Josh needed help tackling the job search. After trying another agency with no luck, Josh and his family gave Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas (Kansas City, MO) a try. He and Goodwill employment specialist, Jane Siela, went to work. He now works at Freddy’s Restaurant in St. Joseph, MO as a “Lobby Guy”.

Monotone Moods for Halloween

It’s hard to believe, but Halloween is just around the corner and the time for costume and décor shopping is now! One thing that I love about Halloween is how reliant the holiday is on setting a mood. I feel like this day, more than any other, is shrouded in a distinct ambiance. To achieve an eerie atmosphere, I’ve noticed that it can sometimes be as simple as streamlining everything to black and white. This emphasizes the shadows, and we all know that Halloween is a shadowy event, don’t we?

This Week, Tell Congress to Support Older Workers

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers who are 55 and older will make up one-quarter of the civilian workforce by 2020. This stark figure demonstrates that older workers will continue to need support. You can show your support for older workers by telling Congress to support S. 192, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization of 2015.

S. 192 reauthorizes the Older Americans Act and key services and programs for America’s seniors including the Senior Community Service and Employment Program (SCSEP). The Goodwill agencies that serve older adults 55 and older through SCSEP served 8361 new participants since 2006 and have placed 2444 to employment with full benefits. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers who are 55 and older will make up one-quarter of the civilian workforce by 2020. This stark figure demonstrates that older workers will continue to need support.

My Story: Tina Bouatic

At age 14, my parents got divorced. They were both drinking and fighting a lot. I started hanging with the wrong crowd. I started cutting school, cutting classes and began to smoke cigarettes. Eventually, while doing drugs and drinking – I went out, stayed out late. I basically stopped going to school. I got pregnant.

How To Plan a Memorable Date Night Without Breaking the Bank

It’s almost Friday night – date night! Tonight you may be nervous about that first kiss with a new love interest or about leaving the kids at home with a new babysitter, but one thing you shouldn’t have to worry about on your long-awaited (and well-deserved!) night on the town is money. Sadly, even if you’re not taking a limo to a fancy restaurant, evenings out tend to be costly. Here are a few ways to plan a night to remember that you won’t have to work an extra shift to make up for.

Celebrate Democracy by Taking Action on September 22

I remember the first time I cast my ballot in an official election. I voted for my father who was running for city council. I was so proud that day, not only of my dad, but that I was able to execute my civic duty. I was able to easily register to vote by simply filling out a form at my high school and a teacher gave the class a ton of resources to turn to in order to learn about all of the candidates on the ballot. There was a presidential election that year, so there was certainly a lot to learn.