 |
|
See what's going on at Goodwill this Month...
Looking for a special or last minute story? Give us a call...
We would love to brainstorm potential story ideas with you!
|
Retailers nationwide are feeling the pinch as customers are choosing alternatives to walking into traditional brick and mortar retail stores. Goodwill is no different. Throughout 2016 Goodwill's retail sales have struggled to meet targets. But for the non-profit the missed targets don't represent unrealized profits; instead it means those dollars are not available to support job training and employment programs.
In 2015 nearly 68% of the organization's revenues came from the sale of goods generously donated to the organization. This resulted in service to more than 45,000 people in central and southwest Virginia who walked through the doors of Goodwill in need of assistance. These revenues also enabled 4,261 individuals to find work as the result of Goodwill programs.
"Like many retailers locally and across the country we are seeing a decline in the number of customers visiting our stores," states Mindy Boyd, Goodwill's Vice President of Donated Goods. "Those who are shopping are buying, but with fewer customers in the stores we are looking at ways to attract more people to come back to the traditional retail stores, but also meeting them where they have chosen to shop . . . online."
Already this year Goodwill has held two sales, a first for the non-profit, in an effort to attract more shoppers. The latest sale took place on September 3rd & 4th and allowed customers to take advantage of buy one get one free on summer clothing.
Jim Forer, Manager of Hollins store in Roanoke
stated, "Customers were not just shopping sale but the entire store. And they appreciated that Goodwill was offering lower price options and the ability to save even more." Another sale is planned for the Holiday Season.
Goodwill has also launched an online shopping
experience. What began as an outlet for books and other media that did not sell in the traditional retail stores has now expanded to the ShopGoodwill.com platform. ShopGoodwill allows customers to find vintage collectibles, unique finds, high end jewelry, and many other items.
"When a donor entrusts items to Goodwill, they expect that we are going to be good stewards of their gift to us," comments Boyd. "The online auction experience of ShopGoodwill allows the public to determine the fair price, while also allowing for the support of Goodwill programs. But we also want to make sure that our stores still have the treasures that shoppers are accustomed to finding. It's a balance and we are excited to be able to offer the same high quality, low cost shopping experience both in the stores and online."
For more information on Goodwill Retail, contact:
Kelly Sandridge, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 107 | Cell: (540) 525.5728
|
 Goodwill's Project SEARCH Recognition
The 10th Annual Project SEARCH conference was held during August in Orlando. The annual awards recognized outcomes for the 2014-2015 school year. All 13 Virginia programs that were operating during that year received an award, and Virginia won the first and only "Exceptional Outcomes Award". The award was given to VA because 100% of Virginia programs were compliant with their data entry, all programs had 70% or better employment outcomes, and six of the 13 programs had 100% placement when the data was reported. Goodwill Industries of the Valleys operates both the Roanoke and Tazewell Project SEARCH programs. These programs were awarded with 80%-89% employment outcomes for the school year.
Project SEARCH is a one year program that provides education and on-site training to prepare youth with disabilities to be work ready upon graduation from high school. The program, which serves as a workforce alternative for students in their last year of high school, is located at a Carilion Clinic in Roanoke and Clinch Valley Medical Center in Tazewell.
For more information on Goodwill's Project SEARCH, contact:
Kelly Sandridge, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 107 | Cell: (540) 525.5728
|
With
older workers making up a large portion of America's
workforce, Goodwill is celebrating National Employ Older Work
ers Week - September 18 - 24, 2016 - which recognizes the achievements of workers age 55 and over. The annual commemoration is intended to increase awareness of and employment strategies for older workers.
"Older workers have the experience, the know-how and the motivation to be productive, valued employees," said Mary Ann Gilmer, Vice President of Workforce Development. "In many cases, all they lack is an updated set of skills, which they can easily obtain through Goodwill's training and employment programs."
An AARP Life Reimagined survey, released in July 2016, showed that nearly 70 percent of workers age 35 and older hope to retire by the time they reach 65, but slightly more than half say they don't actually expect to retire by that age - or at all. That finding is consistent with a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which indicates workers ages 55 and over are expected to make up nearly 25 percent of the labor force in the year 2024, up from about 22 percent in 2014. This will become the fastest growing segment of the workforce, with a rate of growth of 1.8 percent per year, or more than 3 times the growth rate of the overall labor force.
Goodwill is one of only 15 national nonprofit organizations authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor to administer SCSEP to provide assistance to older workers. When seniors come to Goodwill, job coaches deliver thorough needs assessments, create individual employment plans, administer basic skills classes and assist in job training, placement and eventual transition to non-subsidized employment. Goodwill's SCSEP efforts have helped more than 8,502 older adults in local communities nationwide since 2006.
SCSEP, which was authorized by the Older Americans Act of 1965, is the only federally sponsored employment and training program targeted specifically to unemployed individuals with low incomes, aged 55 and older. Through SCSEP, these individuals receive paid training through part-time, service-oriented positions in their communities. The program aims to promote community service while helping participants achieve fiscal self-sufficiency.
For more information on Goodwill's SCSEP Program, contact:
Kelly Sandridge, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 107 | Cell: (540) 525.5728
|
Prisoner Re-Entry - Arrange a Personal Interest Story
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is dedicated to providing effective, comprehensive employment services to men and women with criminal convictions. Our highly structured and supervised
Prisoner Re-Entry
services help returning citizens regain and discover the skills and confidence needed for a successful transition to a stable, productive life.
Goodwill's Re-Entry program is fully funded through the
Round Up program in stores and through retail sales. There are many individuals who have participated in the Re-Entry program who are now employed with Goodwill in our stores and other positions within the organization.
To arrange a personal interest story with an individual who has been involved in Goodwill's Prisoner Re-Entry program and has successfully obtained employment and made the transition, please contact:
Kelly Sandridge, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 107 | Cell: (540) 525.5728
|
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is now accepting applications for GoodCare. GoodCare is a free healthcare training program. Through a partnership with Community Colleges and Adult Education or Literacy Programs, participants will benefit from supportive services, life skills, education, training, and assistance to obtain employment in the healthcare industry. Individuals served will enter an in-demand occupation and have the opportunity to grow and advance their career through healthcare pathways. GoodCare will serve individuals who are TANF recipients, as well as other low income individuals.
Participating community colleges include:
Wytheville, New River, Virginia Western, Dabney S. Lancaster, and Central Virginia. Additional partners include multiple businesses in the healthcare sector and adult education programs throughout the service area. GoodCare will also advance Virginia's professional learning community, expand regional partnerships, and improve the regional Workforce systems.
GoodCare partners will work together on outreach and recruitment to include TANF recipients and other low-income individuals who would not otherwise have access to training. One GoodCare student recently said, "I am grateful and excited to be a part of the GoodCare program. It has given me the opportunity to rise above obstacles and given me a brighter future."
Funding for the program is provided by Health Profession Opportunity Grants from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
For more information on Health Profession Opportunity Grants,
click here.
For information on GoodCare, contact:
Kelly Sandridge, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 107 | Cell: (540) 525.5728
*HPOG is a study funded by the federal government which is being conducted to determine how these training opportunities help people improve their skills and find better jobs. During the study, all new eligible applicants will be selected by lottery to participate in these training opportunities. Not all eligible applicants will be selected to participate in these opportunities.
This document was supported by Grant 90FX0038 from the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS.
|
Goodwill hosts a variety of Job Seeker Services to help individuals in the community get back to work and improve their employment opportunities. Among these services are a variety of computer classes, workshops, job clubs, and job fairs. All events are free and open to the public with prior registration.
Events take place in Roanoke Valley, New River Valley, and Lynchburg and include:
- Job Fairs
- Computer Classes
- Job Clubs
- And More
For a schedule of upcoming Job Seeker Services and Classes
,
click here.
For more information on Job Seeker Services contact:
Kelly Sandridge, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 107 | Cell Phone: (540) 525.5728
|
Upcoming Photo and Video Opportunities
Upcoming Goodwill Events:
"Real Goodwill" Tour:
- September 21st - 8:30am, Roanoke Jobs Campus, 2502 Melrose Avenue NW, Suite B, Roanoke.
- September 29th - 8:30am, Madison Heights Jobs Center, 174 River James Drive, Madison Heights.
For more information on Real Goodwill Tours, click here.
Reality Check:
- September 20th at Woodrow Wilson in Roanoke City - 9am - 2pm
For more information on Reality Check,
click here
.
GoodGuides Science Camp:
- September 22nd, 6pm - 7:30pm, 2502 Melrose Avenue NW, Suite D, Roanoke
For more information on GoodGuides, click here.
For more information on upcoming events, click here.
For more information on Photo and Video Opportunities contact:
Kelly Sandridge
, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 107 | Cell Phone: (540)
525.5728
|
General Goodwill Information
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, a United Way partner organization headquartered in Roanoke, serves 31 counties and 13 cities in the New River, Roanoke, and Shenandoah Valleys. Its mission is to help people and families in our community achieve a better life through work and independence. In 2015, Goodwill assisted over 45,000 individuals and in this difficult employment market placed nearly 4,300 people into jobs in our community. At the end of August 2016, Goodwill had helped over 30,000 people who walked through the doors of the organization seeking assistance.
|
|
|
Goodwill Mission:
Helping people and families achieve a better life through work and independence.
Goodwill Vision:
Through the work of Goodwill, people will have the opportunity to achieve their greatest potential.
|
|
|
|
|
