Find My Goodwill

It’s Never Too Cold to Craft: Create a DIY Wall Garden

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

The bones of winter have gripped us hard this year, and my longing for spring becomes more urgent every day. As I type, 8 – 12 inches of fresh snow are softly covering up months-old layers from previous blizzards. To say that I’m ready for spring is an understatement! So, if I can’t see any green plant life outside, I might as well fix some up inside my home. Thus, a mini wall garden was born.

Goodwill Aligns with Hundreds of Groups to Boost Job Training Funding

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

If the old adage that there is strength in numbers has any truth, then funding for job training programs could see a boost next year. Goodwill Industries International and Goodwill members are joining hundreds of national and state organizations to make the case to Congress that it’s time to invest in America’s job training system.

Want to Be a Great Manager? Try These Three Tips

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

Maureen from Tacoma, WA, asks, “I’ve recently been promoted to store manager where I work. It’s the first time I’ll have people reporting underneath me, and I want to do a good job. Any advice?”

Congress Finds a Lost Art —The Possible

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

I’ve written before about how this Congress seems to have started to move past the intensely bitter ideological battles that marked much of the past three years. Another sign of that came this week as the GOP-controlled House and the Democrat-led Senate approved a one-year extension of the nation’s borrowing authority, otherwise known at the debt limit. What made this event so newsworthy wasn’t the passage of the legislation, but rather what didn’t happen.

My Story – Carol Newberry

Two coworkers in an office share a desk; a woman in a red sweater points at a computer monitor while her colleague looks on.

After a 11-year career with Goodwill, Carol took some time off following the unexpected death of her husband. Goodwill later welcomed her back and she now works as a vocational evaluator / case manager, where she helps people learn about their skills and re-enter the workforce. “I firmly believe that each and every one of us understands Goodwill’s mission, and that we live it each and every day,” she says.

Congress Passes Farm Bill – SNAP Cuts Minimized

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

After years of wrangling capped by a surprise defeat last year in the House, Congress finally mustered the votes to clear a five-year reauthorization of the farm bill. The bill includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. Under the bill, funding for SNAP would be cut by $8 billion over the next decade. The cuts are slightly higher than the $4 billion reduction in the original Senate farm bill but far less than the $40 billion reduction advocated by House Republicans.

Keep Kids Entertained with DIY Games from Goodwill

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

After agreeing to host my nephews and niece for a subzero winter overnight, I began to worry about the entertainment possibilities. I was determined that we wouldn’t spend the evening in front of the television, so I bundled up, got in the car and headed up to one of my favorite Goodwill stores. I thought we could just do a craft of some kind. I would buy some wooden odds and ends and get out paint, glitter, glue, etc. The wood aisle at Goodwill always supplies my needs, so that’s where I headed. But right before my eyes, I spotted a shelf/coat hanger combination piece made from pine, that had three holes in one side. I didn’t spend time trying to figure out what it was used for in the past, but instantly thought of the possibility of making a Goodwill-sourced cornhole game. BINGO! Entertainment idea solved.

What the President’s State of the Union Address Means for Goodwill Advocates

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

The White House has referred to the theme of President Obama’s State of the Union (SOTU) as “Opportunity for All.”  While watching, I was able to identify a number of opportunities for Goodwill advocates to advance efforts that support the people we serve. Depending on which news channel you follow and which papers you read, […]

My Story – Samantha de Roque

Group of workers wearing high-visibility vests standing in front of a loading dock.

After surviving an assault, and bout with breast cancer, Samantha’s outlook on life was left with very little hope. Ready for her life to get back on track Samantha took an opportunity through Goodwill’s Work Adjustment Training program. Through this program Samantha was able to gain employment and rebuild hope for her future.