My Story: Cherise Turner
Goodwill helped me get out of the Welfare to Work program and become self-sufficient by helping me train and providing the tools needed to apply for and obtain a job. Over the past several years Goodwill has taught me work ethic and gave me opportunities to grow by allowing me to attend seminars, help out […]
Settle into the Season with DIY Halloween Décor Inspiration
One of the best things about a change in seasons is making the most of each one by embracing its unique qualities and in the world of Halloween decorations, there are a lot of different paths a person could take.
Teach a Man to Catch a Lot of Fish
There’s a famous proverb about poverty and charity that says, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” I’ve always thought this saying needed to be updated by adding, “…but teach a man to catch a lot of fish, to sell them at the market and to save his money to buy more boats, and pretty soon he catches enough fish for everyone.”
Okay, it needs a little work, but you get my point. The challenge of course isn’t teaching the man to fish, or even to catch a lot of fish; the challenge is getting him to save his money. That challenge has never been greater than it is today.
My Story – Jean Edmond
I went to VR (the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) and Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida (Fort Myers). They helped me fill out the application and interview and get the job at Goodwill. When I got the job here, I felt really happy.
Goodwill Makes Halloween Dreams Come True
When you shop at Goodwill, you are no longer limited by the availability of certain ready-made costumes or by the funds in your bank account. You’re limited only by your imagination. Anything is possible! No matter how obscure your costume idea is, it can happen with a little help from your local Goodwill.
Poverty Reduction: A Tough Row to Hoe for Policymakers
This week, representatives from numerous national human services groups in the United States, including Goodwill, participated in a discussion about a complex challenge that Americans have struggled to address for generations – how do we improve opportunities for people who have economic disadvantages?
While the language we have used over the years has evolved from “poverty reduction and safety nets” to “economic mobility and opportunities,” such conversations inside the Beltway often visit and revisit the following two persistent challenges and implicated federal- level policy recommendations.
1) Programs and resources are fragmented, often overlap, and operate in silos; therefore, policymakers should enact legislation that fosters increased collaboration.
2) Public funding is limited and dwindling for programs that aim to lift people and families out of poverty; therefore, policymakers should protect funding for these programs.
Let’s set the politics aside for a moment to look at Congress from a systemic perspective in order to examine why it enacts laws that perpetuate an underfunded and fragmented poverty-reduction system.
Seven Ways to Sabotage Your Next Job Interview
We’ve covered steps to make your job interview a success, but what about what NOT to do? Avoid these missteps to present yourself in the best possible light to your potential employer.
Cozy Up for Fall with These Goodwill Projects
Autumn is hitting us hard in the Northeast. In typical New England fashion, our weather was sunny and 80 degrees one week, then we were surprised with frost warnings the next. The chill now lingering in the air and the already-colorful leaves are putting me in the mood for hibernation. Someone please tell me I’m not the only one! Let’s all just settle in and ready our homes and ourselves for the cooler days ahead. Of course, that means we’ll have to start with a trip to Goodwill! Here’s what I’ll be looking for.
Goodwill Celebrates the Contributions of Older Workers
National Employ Older Workers Week, held annually the last full week of September, recognizes the vital role of older workers in the workforce. It also showcases the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which provides on-the-job skills training to individuals 55 or older with limited financial resources. Since its inception in 1965, SCSEP has helped more than one million older Americans enter the workforce.Goodwill agencies in 14 states are providing services under the SCSEP program, and last year they helped more than 2,700 seniors put their years of experience and reliability to work in today’s workforce.
Five Steps to Make Your Next Job Interview a Success
It’s an exciting moment. After working on your résumé or application and doing everything perfectly, you get the call—the company wants to have you in for an interview. You have a foot in the door, but how do you go from getting the interview to getting the job? You’ll want to make the best impression that you can; here are just a few suggestions of things that you can do to have a successful interview.
Revitalize the Classroom with School Supplies from Goodwill
By now, educators are noticing voids in their classroom supplies or annoyances regarding the organization of their space, yet the annual budget has probably already been spent or allocated for later purchases. It’s no secret that most teachers end up paying for many (if not most) of their classroom needs out-of-pocket, so costs need to be low. Cue Goodwill!
Looking Back, Moving Forward
Many from Goodwill, including myself, are attending the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) Assets Learning Conference in Washington DC. The timing couldn’t be better, or more ironic. Six years ago this week, the world was hurtled to the brink of an economic precipice it hadn’t seen in nearly 80 years when Lehman Brothers, one of the oldest investment firms on Wall Street, announced it was filing for bankruptcy.
Today, we still face challenges caused by the Great Recession. Too many are still unemployed; many more are working, but earning far less than in 2006 or 2007. And while the stock market has rebounded and stands 2,500 to 3,000 points over its pre- Recession high of 14,100, the middle class has significantly declined.