COVID-19 has brought major changes on many fronts, not the least of which affects our work. Our friends, colleagues, and even ourselves have experienced furloughs, layoffs, or a cut back in our hours or pay. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, now is the time brush up on your job search and interview techniques and learn new skills.
For more than a century, we at Goodwill® have prided ourselves in our work and our mission to help people with perceived barriers to employment overcome their challenges and gain employment. We now need to challenge ourselves as a human service provider to not only help people who have struggled to find employment, but to actively work to remove systemic and institutional racism and other barriers that prevent people from having equal opportunities in the first place.
What an outpouring of delighted Goodwill thrifters we have seen on social media these past few weeks. Despite temporary closures due to COVID-19, I’m happy to report that more than three-quarters of all Goodwill stores across the United States and Canada have reopened their doors, and even more are opening each day!
Michael McDade’s life had already been changed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but when he awoke on the morning of March 22, his world actually looked different.
If you’re a job seeker in this labor market, it’s hard not to get discouraged. The COVID-19 pandemic, and the efforts to contain it, have caused the unemployment rate to climb to 14.7 percent, with particularly heavy losses in the leisure and hospitality segments.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Goodwill Wyoming stepped up to provide five different Wyoming nonprofits a total of $20,000 to aid them during these stressful times. Contributions were made to the Laramie Soup Kitchen, Laramie Interfaith, Food Bank of Sweetwater County, St. Joseph’s Food Pantry in Cheyenne and Joshua’s Pantry in Casper.
READ MORE from Goodwill Wyoming Gives $20,000 to Aid Wyoming Nonprofits During the Pandemic
It’s possible you’ve been spending a lot more time at home than usual, which makes now a great time to get started on all those home improvement projects. If not now, then when?
This week began with many observing service members on Memorial Day who gave the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country. A few days later, we mourned the passing of more than 100,000 lives lost in America’s battle against COVID-19. These were disproportionately people of color, older Americans and people with pre-existing medical conditions — and they were so much more than a statistic.
READ MORE from House Committee Examines Sobering COVID-19 Statistics
Indeed, the world’s number one job search site, has partnered with Goodwill to help individuals find jobs and advance their careers. Indeed is providing resources to make it easier to navigate the online job seeking world during and after the pandemic.
READ MORE from Make the Most of Your Job Search with Indeed + Goodwill®
Goodwill’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a community service and work-based job training program for adults who are age 55 and older. In January 2020, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana was serving over 250 SCSEP participants who were earning money while learning new skills, mastering job search techniques and building work experience to obtain employment, all with the support of a SCSEP guide.
