Find My Goodwill

My Story: Diane Joiner

Close-up of a smiling woman with short dark hair wearing a light jacket, against a beige background, with a Goodwill logo.

After her son was murdered, Diane turned to drugs and alcohol to cope. She was arrested for drug possession in 2010 and went to jail, where she decided it was time to turn her life around. Through her connections, she connected with Goodwill. “They gave me a clean slate, they didn’t look at my background and they didn’t judge me,” Diane says.

Give the Gift of Time with Recycled Clocks

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

It’s nearly impossible for me to go into my favorite Goodwill stores and NOT go look at the clock shelf. I guess you could say it’s become my latest obsession. It’s irresistible. There are so many ways to transform orphaned clocks into reworked and restyled fabulous, modern works of wall art. Besides the fact that your own space could benefit from a handmade mod clock, think of how popular you’d be with your friends and family when you start giving these away as your signature gifts! You’ll find oodles of donated clocks at Goodwill stores, as well as all kinds of other found objects to create truly unique, as well as interesting, decorative conversation pieces.

Despite Senate Advancement, FY 2014 Funding Prognosis Uncertain

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

This week, Senate appropriators are working to advance a bill that would provide $164.3 billion in discretionary budget authority for the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education. Compared to the FY 2013 level, the amount proposed by the bill would result in a $156.5 billion increase. In addition, the Senate bill is nearly 26 percent more than the $121.8 billion provided by the House version. Beyond this week, the prognosis for the bill’s advancement is murky.

Keep More of Your Money by Avoiding ATM Surcharges

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

Carmine from Santa Cruz, CA, asks, “I don’t have easy access to the bank and end up relying on ATMs a lot to get cash. I’m tired of paying their fees! What can I do to keep more of my money?”

My Story: Rosa Barbarito

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

As a member of the U.S. Navy, Rosa was entrusted with top secret information and served her country for three years. After becoming pregnant, she left the military and embarked on a retail career. She found her way to Goodwill, where she’s worked for the last four years. “Seeing people’s lives change is what makes me happy,” she says.

Join Goodwill In Supporting Those Who Served

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

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the most costly battles in American history. Over 50,000 Union and Confederate troops were killed, wounded or missing after the massive three-day battle that marked the turning point of the Civil War. Veterans of that war had little in the way of services to help them regain their lives and find jobs after the war ended. Fortunately, things are different for today’s veterans. Goodwill provides an array of services to help America’s fighting men and women find work after leaving the military.

My Story: Hong Nguyen

Young woman with long dark hair, looking slightly to the side, against a beige wall.

As a young adult, Hong stayed at home a lot and felt she was lacking direction in life. After connecting with Goodwill in Seattle, she became involved in the Green Corps Program where she learned how to maintain trails and took classes in workplace and life readiness. Today she feels she has a purpose and is headed to a career where she can support her family.

Four Generations, One Workforce: Tips for Working Together

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

Angela from Roanoke, VA, asks, “I’m one of the youngest people in my office. Almost everyone else is at least 20 years older than me and has been at this company forever. I feel like they don’t GET me and like we’re speaking different languages sometimes. How can I make this better?”

Decorating with Doilies: Three DIY Projects

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

I’ve been eyeing crochet doilies at my local Goodwill for many months now, knowing that there must be something easy that can be done to give them a place in my home without them feeling too “granny.” Finally, a couple of projects came to mind and seemed to fit the bill.

Senate Panel Holds Hearing on Improving Workers’ Skills

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

It has been 15 years since Congress enacted the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the nation’s primary job training law. Back then, the U.S. had a budget surplus and the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent. Today, the nation is slowly recovering from the worst recession experienced in a generation and unemployment is stubbornly declining from the peak it reached during that time. Needless to say, the law is long overdue for an update. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing today to consider how WIA could be improved to better develop a skilled workforce for a competitive economy.