By Julia Marchand
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​The return to the back-to-school season is upon us! As far as shopping for the necessary supplies and styles, it’s time to get serious! Don’t let yourself get dragged into stores with long lines and high prices. Come to Goodwill® instead! You’ll be able to cross every item off of your shopping list (from dorm-worthy dishes to kindergarten kicks) all in one place while at the same time bringing opportunities to individuals in your neighborhood. How? Your back-to-school purchases help fund training services and programs that help people get good jobs and find meaningful employment. That’s something to feel great about this back-to-school and every shopping season. With that, let’s dive into to some of our favorite back-to-school Goodwill finds.

​Image via 4hatsandfrugal.com

​Shopping with little ones can seem so impossible at times, but bringing them along for the ride is also the only way you can be really sure about the fit of your finds for them. So what do you do when the countdown to the first day of school is in single digits and you still don’t have what you need? You read these super helpful tips for thrifting for your back-to-school needs from Amiyrah of the blog Four Hats & Frugal! She’s got some bold tricks up her sleeve that will help you survive the season, kids in tow. My favorite is to give each kiddo their own cash to shop with. This will help them learn to budget and take charge of their own style. What better way to warm up their brains for school-thinking after months of summer fun? Even the littlest kids (like Alannah, pictured above) can help with this! The most surprising tip on her list: Don’t go thrifting on sale days. Find out why by reading the full post.

Image via instagram.com/raereid19

​High-school shopping brings its own unique set of problems. Teens will probably want to pour their whole back-to-school budget into fashion pieces. But don’t let them skip the organizational elements that will streamline life between classes. I’m talking about little hanging baskets, pint-sized mirrors, and other tiny items to keep their locker tidy and useful. Everything in this photo reposted on Instagram by Goodwill Industries of Northern New England (Portland, ME) would be super helpful lining the inside of a locker door! While rushing through the hall, your student would be able to quickly swing in to swap out books, grab a new pencil, hair elastic, or calculator without having to dig around for them all. Then, with a quick peek in their hanging mirror, they’re off to their next class before the bell rings. Scope out your local Goodwill for little baskets, bins, and locker accessories like this then grab some strong magnetic hooks to keep them in place. Don’t forget a mini-white board for homework reminders (…or, notes from their pals).

Image via wachabuy.com

​Once college rolls around, the priorities and shopping needs for students change once again. And yet, Goodwill can still help. Backpacks may start to feel a little childish, so a cute, but functional, alternative might be the little satchel-type backpack for fitting in a laptop alongside your college text books. InStyle magazine suggests going for a chic tote instead and there’s a perfect one over on the Fashion Inspiration pinboard put together by Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc (Lincoln). The width and depth of this tote means it will be able to hold books for several classes at a time so you don’t have to run back to your dorm to swap anything out. Sturdy leather will help the bag hold up well over time even when it’s constantly being weighed down. And that camel color matches just about anything! Make sure you scroll through the board for more cool collegiate looks that are perfect for fall.
Does that cover everything on your shopping list? If not, I dare you to check Goodwill for your needs before heading elsewhere. Since Goodwill stores are constantly being stocked with more community donations, you never know what you’ll find!

IT stands for Information Technology; it’s the use of computers, storage, networking, and other physical devices to create, process, store, secure, and exchange all forms of electronic data. 
 
Goodwill’s new IT program is called the Google Certificate Program. This program offers full scholarships for two Google professional certificate courses: IT Support and Data Analytics. These courses provide job seekers with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to successfully find and maintain employment in today’s competitive IT job market. This program is perfect for anyone looking to get started but not knowing where to start! You don’t need degrees, computers, or prior IT or Data Analytics experience to apply! 
 
The perfect candidate for this program is interested in a career in IT and focused on making a positive change in their life. Someone willing to put in the time and effort into obtaining the certificate. IT experience or a degree isn’t needed, just the drive to complete the certification and become an IT professional. 
 
A Goodwill Career Specialist will work with the participant throughout the process to help prepare and find a job in IT. There are numerous job opportunities in New Mexico after completing this program and obtaining the certificate. Companies like UNM, the State of New Mexico, Honeywell, etc. 

Danny O’Hara, the IT Manager at Goodwill Industries of New Mexico, states that “the IT field covers a lot of different areas from administration, design, analysts, software programmers, computers scientists, computer support specialists to network and database administrators. In its’ simplest form, IT support is about offering assistance and helping other individuals and organizations by providing users with answers to problems they may be experiencing.” “More now than ever, there is a demand for IT professionals. Technology is always evolving and with new technology comes new jobs. In the last year, I’ve seen the demand for IT jobs in New Mexico triple from basic entry-level support to the highest levels”, says Danny O’Hara.
 
Mr. O’Hara tells us that he loves his job because it provides the need for purpose in life, it’s challenging, and fits well with his personality. He loves the fast-paced and ever-changing environment. He always looks forward to going into the office. “I’m good at it, and when you find something that you’re good at and enjoy doing, then you should do it.”, states Danny. 
 
The new program is headed up by Daniel McConnell, Service Director at Goodwill Industries of New Mexico. Mr. McConnell explains, “In New Mexico in 2021, the median income for a Computer Network Support Specialist was $60,530, the entry-level is $42,640, and can go upwards of $76,700 or more with experience.” He believes people should be interested in a career in IT because there simply aren’t enough IT professionals to fill the growing demand. And career opportunities can be found in multiple sectors, from healthcare to agriculture. 
 
So, if you are interested in IT as a career path, take the next step and enroll today! You could be well on your way to a great new job very soon!
  
Enroll here:  https://www.goodwillnm.org/google-certificate-program.html