A Goodwill Effort Posted on: 05/08/10 Category: Incredibly Incredible

Story by Audrey Ullman

Once a year I go through my closet and I clean out any gently used items that I no longer wear and to Goodwill to be recycled. While I always knew that these items eventually made it to one of Goodwill’s numerous retail outlets, I never had any idea what their purpose really was. In 1902 Goodwill Industries was founded by Reverend Edgar J. Helms with the mission of helping his less fortunate neighbors get back on their feet. The charitable reverend began collecting used goods that were slightly worse-for-wear and hiring people to help mend them for sale. It was through this process of job creation and “social innovation” that the Goodwill philosophy “a hand up, not a hand out” came to be.

Today Goodwill Industries is a $2.4 billion nonprofit organization that helps anyone and everyone on through their struggles to find employment. In 2009, Goodwill helped almost two million people through employment and training programs and found over 155,000 people a job. Many people face barriers to employment; whether it be having a physical or mental disability or even not knowing how to properly write a resume or fill out a job application. These problems used to be impassable road blocks for many people, but with Goodwill’s help they become merely a speed bump.

Next time you find your closet is a little too stuffed or your shoe-rack is overflowing, remember Goodwill! You can do like I do and make one big trip once a season or you set aside a bin in your house for items to be donated. By making donations to Goodwill you will not only be actively reducing consumption and recycling, but you will be giving a hand up to a stranger in need.