Category: The Goodwill Blog

How will you spread the love this Valentine’s Day? Of course choosing a sweet card for your love and spending time together is a must. If you’re rocking the single life, doing something special to love yourself is essential. But spreading a little love with your community is a great step to take, too, and it’s as easy as shopping at Goodwill! Every 27 seconds of every business day, a person served by Goodwill earns a good job. Every three seconds, another person accesses Goodwill opportunities to build careers and strong families. You can be a part of that just by shopping at Goodwill for Valentine’s Day goodies like these.

READ MORE from Show Some Love for Valentine’s Day with Goodwill® Finds

We work hard every day. Doesn’t it only make sense that your hard work shouldn’t be punished by the federal government? Well last December Congress approved a sweeping set of tax policies affecting businesses and individuals. After months of difficult negotiations the final bill was set for passage. Among the tax policies Congress approved was a change that made permanent Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Goodwill is supporting the EITC during Assets & Opportunity Network’s Week of Action, and this Friday, January 29 is EITC Awareness Day.

READ MORE from The Earned Income Tax Credit Works for You

Time, energy, and money are three things that, if you’re anything like us, are always lacking. So we’re constantly looking for quick and easy ways to update thrifty items into one of-a-kind treasures. When our belongings and surroundings look good, we feel better about them and are able to live a more inspired life. That’s why I’m so excited today to share a few ideas for updating almost anything with one inexpensive tool that you probably already own: the sharpie.

READ MORE from Leave Your Mark: Ideas for Updating Thrifted Items with a Sharpie

We have all heard about how the economy is growing, how the recovery has created millions of new jobs and how unemployment is plummeting to historic lows. So then, why do so many Americans not just feel, but know, that all is not as the numbers would indicate? Next week, join Goodwill® as we partner with the first Assets & Opportunity National Week of Action, along with the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) and Credit Builders Alliance (CBA).

READ MORE from Secure Your Financial Present and Future with a Week of Action

Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, managing major global brands such as Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton, recently teamed up with Goodwill® to launch a unique pilot program, a customized jobs portal created in conjunction with Hospitality Online. The portal is available exclusively to Goodwill member staff through the GoodProspects® career navigation platform, which allows Goodwill staff across the country to access details about open positions at Interstate-managed hotels in their region. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to speak with Nigel Williams, vice president of human resources for Interstate Hotels & Resorts and a 25-year veteran of the customer service industry, to learn more about this collaboration, as well as how he and his team think about attracting the best talent amidst a fluctuating job market.

READ MORE from Interstate Hotels & Resorts Talent Acquisition Leader Discusses Hiring Trends, Skills for Success

Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, managing major global brands such as Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton, recently teamed up with Goodwill® to launch a unique pilot program, a customized jobs portal created in conjunction with Hospitality Online. The portal is available exclusively to Goodwill member staff through the GoodProspects® career navigation platform, which allows Goodwill staff across the country to access details about open positions at Interstate-managed hotels in their region. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to speak with Nigel Williams, vice president of human resources for Interstate Hotels & Resorts and a 25-year veteran of the customer service industry, to learn more about this collaboration, as well as how he and his team think about attracting the best talent amidst a fluctuating job market.

READ MORE from Interstate Hotels & Resorts Talent Acquisition Leader Discusses Hiring Trends, Skills for Success

When you were a child, did you ever imagine that the “adult you” would effortlessly stroll down a red carpet? Would she be one of those people who could throw on just about anything and still catch the eye of everyone she passed? Or, in your mind’s eye, did you picture yourself gliding around in sleek black heels, walking as comfortably as if you were barefoot? It’s easy to feel like those thoughts are far-fetched now, but I promise you that there are lots of ways to obtain an easy elegance.

READ MORE from Easy Elegance

President Obama delivered his final State of the Union (SOTU) address this week and as expected, he did not put forth an aggressive policy agenda for his last year of office. However, the President did touch upon a number of specific areas of interest to Goodwill® and the people we serve.

READ MORE from Education, Poverty Alleviation Among Key Themes in State of the Union Address

What do you think of when you hear the words ‘the American dream’? For most of ourselves and the people we serve at Goodwill®, the definition would include being able to hold a job that provides long-term support and security for ourselves and our families. For older workers profiled in the documentary Set for Life, the definition of the American dream shifted drastically due to periods of unexpected unemployment they experienced during the Great Recession.

READ MORE from Older Workers No Longer ‘Set for Life,’ Documentary Demonstrates

Erin Starnes is the director of workforce development for Goodwill Industries of Tenneva (Kingsport, TN). She also worked closely with Matthew McCurry was recently featured on the My Story blog.

READ MORE from My Story: Erin Starnes

Every year at about this time I start to really miss greenery. Although I can see plenty of trees from my windows (the cold generally keeps me inside), their dreary, skeletal branches do nothing to refresh me. So, in an effort to enjoy some greenery, the winter months tend to introduce new plants into my home. With a busy schedule and my black thumb, I need to choose plants that don’t require a lot of care. Enter the super popular succulent!

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For policy wonks like me, 2016 is off to an exciting start. Congress wrapped up 2015 without shutting down the government, a threat of falling off a “fiscal cliff” is no longer looming, and there is a new speaker of the House. Of course this year there is a presidential election and a number of lawmakers have announced their retirements at the end of this congressional session, providing an opportunity for Goodwill® advocates to make new connections with policymakers.

READ MORE from Get to Know Goodwill’s® Legislative Priorities and Become an Advocate