Find My Goodwill

Advocacy in the Time of Coronavirus

Collage of diverse people on video calls beneath a blue banner labeled Virtual Advocacy with an American flag emblem

Office closures and social distancing has not stopped Congress from their ability to conduct their business, nor should it preclude advocates from being able to engage with lawmakers and staff. In fact, it’s more important now that constituents be able to contact elected officials and share the impact that the pandemic is having on individuals, families, communities and employers. Check out these helpful tips on conducting remote advocacy.

Be Mine, Quaran-tine!

Smiling couple lounging on a sofa at home, woman holding a remote.

It’s that time of year again — the month of love is upon us. If you’re lucky enough to live with someone you *still like* after months and months of way-too-much-together-time, congratulations! WELL DONE! And, if not — congratulations to you too! We’ve all made it through a tough year and it’s time to show a little love to our significant others if we have them – and definitely to ourselves, too! So whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s or Galentine’s (or both!), Goodwill is the place to find all you need to show the love.

My Story: Fahad

Man wearing a dark jacket with yellow reflective stripes stands outdoors among trees.

As Fahad looks back on his life, hindsight is 2020. “When I was younger, I was uneducated, so I made mistakes,” he recalls. “I never put a lot of thought towards the things that I did. I was making mistake after mistake without even realizing I was making them, and it came back to bite me.”

How to Navigate and Overcome Unemployment Gaps

Woman wearing headphones and glasses smiles while using a laptop in a home office.

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, searching for a new job followed a strict and specific set of rules. One rule that seemed to be written in stone was that significant employment gaps — say six months or longer — were a red flag for recruiters. As with so many other things in our society, COVID-19 has changed that perception.

This Valentine’s Day, Take the Goodwill Date Night Challenge!

Couple embracing in a sunlit field; man kisses woman on the cheek as she smiles, wearing a blue cap.

If you haven’t yet heard of the Goodwill Date Night Challenge… then today is definitely your lucky day. It’s an excuse to get creative and playful with your favorite Goodwill shopping companion — be it your significant other, best friend or fur baby.

#Relief4Charities in the New Congress

Capitol building in Washington, D.C. with a foreground bed of red flowers.

The year-end COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress extended a number of programs and supports through the middle of March 2021. Lawmakers are now negotiating the details of an additional relief measure before the deadline expires. Contact your members of Congress and ask that they provide #Relief4Charities.

How to Build a Strong Team in a Virtual World

Smiling woman in a yellow shirt sits at a cafe table with a laptop.

What is this, day four million of the pandemic? By now, most of us have settled into that new routine of working. The technical issues have been largely solved. We are fluent in Zoom and various work-flow software. Now what? How do we maintain our team spirit?

5 Fun Winter Essentials You Can Find at Goodwill!

Smiling young girl wearing white earmuffs and a knit sweater with a fur vest.

Although the holidays are over, the winter season has just begun! With the shorter days and colder nights, that means it’s time to stock up on winter apparel, cold-weather accessories and outdoor gear. Members of the retail staff at Goodwill of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago picked their favorite items for the snowy season.

Unity Through Opportunity and the Power of Work

U.S. Capitol dome with an American flag waving in front of a cloudy sky.

I didn’t realize the weight of the emotions I have been carrying until the last few moments of President Biden’s inaugural remarks when the floodgates opened and I let out all of my tears. All of the negative feelings related to the pandemic, concern for family and friends battling COVID, living in isolation, the insurrection, social injustice, anxiety for friends living within the military zone established in DC conflated with the pride for our country, the joy of watching history being made, and the hope I have for our future.

My Story: Eulalio Martinez

Elderly man wearing a bright yellow safety vest over a blue shirt in a workshop

Eulalio Martinez traveled 1,500 miles to move to Wisconsin, but he did not have a job lined up to sustain him when he arrived. For several weeks, he lived in his truck before moving into a local homeless shelter. One day, he walked a block away to Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin’s Green Bay East Retail Store and Training Center, where he approached a career navigator named Dawn and asked for help. He said he was looking for someone to take a chance on him.

Five Ways to Have Fun While Working Remotely

Smiling woman wearing glasses leaning toward a laptop, hands near her mouth in delight.

Like you, I’m getting a bit tired of the over-used phrase, “Welcome to the new normal”.  However, just because “we’re all in this together,” it doesn’t mean we can’t “pivot” from the norm and “think outside the box” when it comes to making work fun again.

President-Elect Biden Unveils American Rescue Plan

U.S. Capitol dome with a waving American flag against a clear blue sky

On the heels of Inauguration Day, in a city under lockdown that is still reeling from the violence at the Capitol and while a pandemic rages on, President-elect Biden unveiled the details of his “American Rescue Plan”. This is the first of a two-part proposal, the second of which will be released in the coming weeks and will focus on recovery.