#Blog4Good May 5, 2013

Hello Friends and Happy Sunday!

I live in DE not DC but am supporting my fellow DC bloggers for a cause that I think is important.

Goodwill Industries Week

You know Goodwill, they’re the folks you donate all your old stuff to.   They also have all those stores where you can find some great deals on someone else’s stuff.  But, do you know why Goodwill accepts your donations?  Do you know where the proceeds from those retail sales go? Simply put – they help people find jobs.  Not just any people – people who live in our community, people whose kids go to our schools, people who are sitting next to you on Metro or bus.

Goodwill of Greater Washington’s primary mission is to provide job training and employment services to people with disadvantages and disabilities. Their goal is to give the populations they serve the tools they need to become self-sufficient.

People like Nadine, who had been living on the streets since she was 12 years old. She was shot three times and stabbed while literally fighting to survive, until she found Goodwill. Nadine is now fully employed and has her first apartment!

People like Patricia— she was unemployed, living on welfare and trying to raise three children. After graduating from a Goodwill training program, Goodwill decided to hire Patricia. She is doing great and was recently promoted!

And Vander’s story is amazing, he has a disability that prevented many businesses from considering him for jobs. After completing Project Search, Vander landed a full-time job with the Department of Education.  In his spare time, he likes to advocate for people with disabilities.  

These are real people who now have real jobs and real lives – thanks to the incredible work done by Goodwill of Greater Washington. They are now positive, contributing members to our community.  All they needed was a helping hand – A helping hand given to them by Goodwill that was made possible by your donations.

In 2012, Goodwill directly affected the lives of more than 3,200 of our neighbors. These are people who have re-found the dignity that comes with being a contributing member of our society.  Goodwill also diverted over 20 millions of trash from local landfills through their donation program.  In addition to training people for jobs, placing them into jobs, providing consumers with access to quality, low cost goods, and acting as one our region’s largest recyclers, Goodwill is also a job developer. With each new store and donation center that Goodwill opens, 25-30 new jobs are created.

Goodwill of Greater Washington’s mission is summed up by its tagline – “Transforming lives and communities”. Now you know how they do it. If you’d like to learn more about Goodwill of Greater Washington, find their nearest store or donation center, or get involved, please visit www.dcgoodwill.org or download their free mobile app from the iTunes app store.

Share your thoughts