Category: The Goodwill Blog

We hope this blog serves as a way to educate and inform Goodwill® shoppers, donors, program participants and staff among others, about the hot topics affecting our agency and the people we serve. In the new year, we hope to continue to be a valuable resource to our stakeholders, garner more grassroots support, and advance Goodwill Industries’ legislative agenda. We would love to learn more about the types of information you would like to see on this page and how you feel you can be an effective advocate. Please take our short survey to give us your feedback.

READ MORE from Goodwill® Advocates: What’s Important to You in 2013?

We hope this blog serves as a way to educate and inform Goodwill® shoppers, donors, program participants and staff among others, about the hot topics affecting our agency and the people we serve. In the new year, we hope to continue to be a valuable resource to our stakeholders, garner more grassroots support, and advance Goodwill Industries’ legislative agenda. We would love to learn more about the types of information you would like to see on this page and how you feel you can be an effective advocate. Please take our short survey to give us your feedback.

READ MORE from Goodwill® Advocates: What's Important to You in 2013?

As we progress into the final few frenzied days of shopping and preparing for the holidays, let's keep in mind the lesson of the little tree. Less is more. Fewer toys, more time spent playing together with them. Less stuff, more experiences. Less spending money, more spending time.

READ MORE from Less Is More This Holiday Season

Goodwill employee holds supportive sign for troops.This year, employees at Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska (Grand Island) are sending gifts to 25 U.S. Marines stationed in Afghanistan. A few years ago, Goodwill employees opted to forgo the office gift exchange in favor of providing gifts for others in need. Since then, more and more Goodwill employees and program participants are getting involved. This year’s decision to send gifts to Marines has become one of the Grand Island Goodwill’s biggest efforts yet to help people outside of the local community.

READ MORE from Greater Nebraska Goodwill Sends Holiday Gifts to Marines in Afghanistan

Through numerous life and health challenges, Goodwill has been a constant in Joy's life. She says, "I can feel myself smiling, laughing and healing, and I truly feel cared about. This place is my therapy."

READ MORE from My Story: Joy Henry

With the election a fading memory, Congressional leaders and the president are finally engaged in serious negotiations about a deficit reduction deal. While questions about whether such a deal will be achieved and what it may look like makes terrific political theater for political junkies, it’s important to remember that, over the course of several years, many factors have led to this decisive moment in our history. All the while, as it has been since 1902, Goodwill® has been on the front lines helping people to overcome their employment challenges.

READ MORE from Fiscal Cliff Negotiations Hold a Range of Implications for Goodwill®

Andy from Columbia, MO, “All of my coworkers are loud and outgoing. I’m pretty shy and feel overshadowed by them. I like my job and I’m good at it, but feel like my team values these kinds of people more than they do how I am. What should I do?”

READ MORE from Introverted? Check Out These Tips for Career Success

Young child hangs from monkey bars.Children at the Gordon Smith Child Development Center, a project of Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast (Mobile, AL) will soon have a brand new playground to enjoy. In November, children at the center enjoyed a “design day” as they put crayon to paper to design their dream playgrounds. With a significant investment from the PNC Foundation, volunteers and organizers from KaBOOM! will help make these drawings a reality. Elements from the children’s drawings will be incorporated into the final design for the new community playground, scheduled to be constructed in January.

READ MORE from Dream Playground to Become Reality for Gulf Coast Goodwill Children

Daniel Owens was recovering from a relapse of his bipolar illness and living in debt when he came to Goodwill in Medford, OR. There, he connected with training and financial stability programs that helped him return to the workforce, and gained the support to start his own video production company.

READ MORE from My Story: Daniel Owens

If there is one type of garment that thrift stores like Goodwill® have an abundance of, it would have to be the sweater. Chunky knit sweaters are a playful way to keep warm in the winter, and thrift stores have everything from designer versions to handmade looks from grandma’s knitting needle. Re-fashioning a thrifted knit sweater takes a little creativity, but the result can be a unique look with a nod to the whimsy.

READ MORE from How to Choose and Accessorize a Festive Holiday Sweater

This week, hundreds on nonprofit advocates met with lawmakers and staff in order to protect charitable giving incentives, which are being threatened during discussions pertaining to the fiscal cliff. Goodwill Industries®, along with over 1.2 million other organizations, are part of a diverse charitable and philanthropic community working daily to provide programs and services that change the lives of individuals and strengthen families and communities.

READ MORE from Urge Policymakers to Protect Charitable Giving Incentives

Carlos from Galveston, TX, asks, “I’ve got good office skills and experience, but can’t find a full-time job. My sister told me to try the temp agency in our town, but isn’t that just wasting time I could be using to find a proper job? What do you think?”

READ MORE from Find Job Opportunities Through Temporary Work