Tag: Veterans and Military Families

Earlier this summer, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago store associate Sheila Anderson was processing jewelry donations at the agency’s South Elgin, IL, location when she found a bracelet. Engraved with a name, military rank, branch of service, a date, and a country, the bracelet struck Anderson as more than a regular ID bracelet. Read on to learn how online research led Goodwill to learn more about the bracelet's history and reunite the piece of jewelry with a family member of the soldier it commemorates.

READ MORE from Goodwill® Reunites Donated POW/MIA Bracelet with Soldier's Family

Earlier this summer, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago store associate Sheila Anderson was processing jewelry donations at the agency’s South Elgin, IL, location when she found a bracelet. Engraved with a name, military rank, branch of service, a date, and a country, the bracelet struck Anderson as more than a regular ID bracelet. Read on to learn how online research led Goodwill to learn more about the bracelet's history and reunite the piece of jewelry with a family member of the soldier it commemorates.

READ MORE from Goodwill® Reunites Donated POW/MIA Bracelet with Soldier’s Family

On Tuesday, October 11, 2011, the American Jobs Act was defeated in the U.S. Senate after it failed to attract the 60 votes needed to conclude debate. At Goodwill®, we stand ready to work with the administration and Congress to put Americans back to work and is hopeful that some of the promising aspects of the act will move forward, including increasing employment opportunities for veterans, people who are long-term unemployed, low-income adults, individuals with disabilities and youth.

READ MORE from Helping People Return to Work Remains a Priority for Goodwill®

Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina hosted its 3rd Annual Undy 500 Motorcycle Charity Ride in September to raise awareness and funding for events and programs for local homeless veterans. Two hundred twenty-five riders donated more than 2,100 new undergarments to be distributed to veterans at the Annual Stand Down against Homelessness. More than $6,800 was raised in support of local veterans.

READ MORE from Goodwill ‘Undy 500’ Motorcycle Ride Benefits Homeless Veterans

Goodwill Industries® is proud to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year’s NDEAM theme is, “Profit by Investing in Workers with Disabilities.” For decades, Goodwill® agencies have trained and hired people with disabilities. Goodwill provided employment training and job services to more than 240,000 individuals with disabilities last year. people with disabilities, including youth, older workers, and military veterans. While more employers should recognize the value of hiring people with disabilities, Congress can also do more to increase their employment opportunities.

READ MORE from Goodwill Supports National Disability Awareness Month

Sherry GordonWhen you’re facing challenges finding a job, talking to people who’ve been in your shoes and found success can give you the encouragement you need to keep your head up during the tough times. In late 2009, we launched Goodwill’s “My Story” series, giving job seekers coming to our page the chance to hear and read the first-person stories of people who have improved their lives through the Goodwill job training, career placement and volunteer programs your donations help support. Almost two years later, we are honored to share our 100th story on the site.

READ MORE from Back to Work: 100 Job Seekers, Volunteers Share Their Goodwill® Success Stories

During President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress on September 9, 2011, he referenced the American Jobs Act (AJA), and then delivered it to Capitol Hill requesting swift passage. As one of the largest nonprofit job training providers in the country, Goodwill stands ready to support the administration and Congress in efforts to put Americans back to work. Given staggering unemployment levels and alarming recently released 2010 Census data that reveals 2.6 million more Americans fell into poverty, we believe the time to act on a jobs bill is now.

READ MORE from Goodwill® Finds Promise in American Jobs Act

Jason Tobey, a Marine Corps veteran who completed several tours during the Gulf War, expected to easily transition into the civilian workforce after being honorably discharged from the military. He was surprised to find, however, that not all employers looked at servicemen and women from these conflicts as favorable job candidates. After returning to school, Jason became involved with Goodwill of Orange County’s microenterprise development program, which gave him the skills he needed to start his own business, Semper Fi Security. He’s now helping others with a military service record succeed, employing eight veterans with plans to hire more as business grows.

READ MORE from My Story: Jason Tobey

Before I came to Goodwill, I spent some time in the military and, after ETS, fell into an addiction to alcohol. I got with Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina and my life changed for the positive after taking a maintenance training program. I take care of the corporate building in Charleston and my future seems to be getting brighter and brighter. Once, it was all about me, but now I try to give back what I received. It makes me feel good.

READ MORE from My Story: Bernard Weiters

Melissa is a participant of Goodwill Industries of Houston’s Female Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program I was a victim of an aggravated sexual assault in the first degree with a deadly weapon. I had a gun put to my head, tied up after being sexually assaulted and told I was never going home. I decided to move from Henderson, TX, down to Houston. My family and I didn’t have anywhere to go, and stayed in a car that belonged to my mom. I didn’t want to put my daughter in that situation.

READ MORE from My Story: Melissa Ross