The Goodwill Blog – Page 178 – Goodwill Industries International

Warm Up in Style with Affordable Winter Coats from Goodwill®

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Stacey Kay

When I started thrifting, I was immediately drawn to the coats. The Goodwill® store that I frequented had a massive coat display, with everything from fur to leather to wool. The modern coats being sold in department stores really had lacked in quality, at least the ones I could afford, but here the coats were actually warm, made with real wool (not some synthetic fiber), and had all the style and originality -- maybe even a little more elevated! -- than what I was finding elsewhere.

Goodwill® Previews Issues on the Public Policy Front in 2013

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Laura Walling

While Congress may have averted the fiscal cliff for now, the new Congress will have its work cut out for it with a number of diverse policy issues vying for attention. In the midst of these discussions, organizations like Goodwill continue to take advantage of opportunities to educate new members about our mission of providing job training and other community based programs to people with barriers to employment.

Four Resolutions to Make for Your Career in the New Year

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Vanessa Cardoni

Louisa from Framingham, MA, asks, “I’ve decided that 2013 is the time to start getting serious about my job and career. I want to make some plans now before I start losing my motivation. What do you suggest?”

My Story: Michael Harper, Jr.

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Vanessa Cardoni

After falling in with the wrong crowd, Michael ended up in prison for 22 months. When he was released, he was determined to make a chance. He connected with Goodwill in Indiana and now works as a team lead for cleaning and janitorial services at the local VA hospital. "I try to be positive and help people," Michael says. "I love my job and those around me."

DIY: Three Easy Craft Projects for Old Teacups

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Julia Marchand

My Melmac plates and bowls get plenty of use, but I have stacks of adorable teacups that we constantly pass up in favor of sturdy mugs. It’s about time to start thinking creatively about how to put them to work, but my imagination wasn’t jump-started until I went over to my friend’s house and saw a holiday project she had been working on - turning teacups into candles!

Some Certainty in an Uncertain Time

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Seth Turner

Last week, Speaker of the House John Boehner’s so-called “Plan B” failed to attract sufficient Republican support. Members of Congress soon headed home for the Christmas holiday with the nation’s economic future still in question. Will congressional leaders and President Obama find a way to agree to a deficit reduction deal that averts a plunge over the fiscal cliff? Or will we take that plunge? While the question about the fiscal cliff remains uncertain, Goodwill has been on the front lines since 1902, working to build stronger communities, and it will continue to urge Congress to protect investments that leverage Goodwill’s efforts to help people find jobs and advance in careers.

10 Ways to Save in 2013

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Vanessa Cardoni

In 2013, keep your finances in order with the following tips to creatively stretch and save more of your paycheck. Whether this means simply being more informed or actively pre-planning an outing, you can squirrel away enough money by streamlining your spending to stretch your budget in 2013. Start the new year well by setting yourself up for success.

Goodwill and Donors Brighten the Holiday Through Giving

Posted on December 25, 2012 by Mandy Mikulencak

While the holidays seem to bring out the kid in people of all ages, the wide-eyed wonder and magic still belong to the little ones this time of year. Sadly, many families lack the financial resources to buy gifts — and sometimes even necessities like winter coats and shoes. Goodwill agencies like those below have stepped in to spread a little joy and warmth to those who need it most.

My Story: Remy Lawrence

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Vanessa Cardoni

Life threw Remy a curve ball and she found herself an unemployed single mother. "I felt like a statistic," she says. With support from Goodwill, she made the job connection she needed to find successful employment working with people with disabilities.

Have Yourself a Thrifty Little Christmas – and a Thrifty New Year

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Jenna Isaacson

As you’ve probably learned by now, Christmas can get pricey – and quick. I’d be lying if I said I got everything under my tree this year at thrift stores, but I definitely tried hard to get as much as I could there. And while it’s easy to rush to the biggest box store and mindlessly fill a cart with stuff shipped here from thousands of miles away, thrifting for loved ones involves a little more patience, a little more time – but definitely not as much money or waste. When you buy a perfect something for someone special at a Goodwill, you’re really doing a world of good. Soon we’ll all watch loved ones unwrap their treasures. And when they hold it up and gush about how much they love it, tell them proudly where you got it!

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

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Laura Walling

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.

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

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Vanessa Cardoni

Category: The Goodwill Blog