New Mexico Veterans and their families can find FREE HELP to recover from housing and economic hardship at Goodwill. Goodwill’s free services are broad but include independent housing, covering past due rent or utilities, and job placement support to secure the veteran a great job. The process is swift. All of this usually takes place within hours to days of the qualified veteran’s approved application for assistance. This comprehensive level of assistance is not new to Goodwill. It’s part of the many free social service programs available to all New Mexicans since 1941. Marketing Manager, Pamela Russom, says, “we have nine free programs and services. Three of which cater specifically to veterans. Our dedicated teams consist of caseworkers with master-level degrees and backgrounds in the military. We know exactly how to help a veteran get back on their feet, and we have the resources to make it happen fast. Last year we served over 1800 New Mexico veterans.” If you know a veteran or are a veteran in need, please call Goodwill’s corporate office at (505)881-6401 between the hours of 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday. Veterans can also go online and submit their application for services here.
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We are open and ready to serve you! As of May 16th, our stores reopened, except for Gallup and Farmington, which remain closed through June 1st to comply with our Governor's Executive Order. Keep in mind; all stores will have temporary hours of operation until further notice, so please visit: goodwillnm.org/store-locations before shopping. Also, be aware that shoppers must observe social distancing, wear a mask while in the stores, and clean their hands before shopping. For the safety of everyone, please stay home if you are sick. What are we doing to protect you?
We are following the CDC's guidelines on social distancing, and our staff is wearing masks. Greeters are posted at each entrance, maintaining our capacity limits. We sanitize the shopping carts after use, the stores at 2-hour intervals, and deep-clean nightly. Additionally, safety signage is posted at all entrances with directions for shoppers. We've received numerous questions about the cleanliness of donated items. The items in our store are deemed safe. No evidence has been presented that COVID-19 can spread through proximity to general household items. However, as a precaution measure, donations remain under warehouse quarantine for a minimum of 72 hours, and in most cases, much longer. We are doing everything we can to make sure you have a safe and happy shopping experience and are glad to welcome you back! Items Dropped At Closed Donation Centers Are Being Stolen! Please Hold Donations Until We Reopen!4/29/2020 Thieves caught on camera are stealing and looting items left at closed Goodwill donation centers. Stealing donated goods is a crime and destroys the promise of donations transforming into free programs and services for New Mexicans. Donors can help by holding their drop-offs until stores and their donation centers reopen. Goodwill is abiding by the recent mandate from Governor Lujan, closing all non-essential business. But the generous donations keep coming. Shauna Kastle, President, and CEO of Goodwill Industries of New Mexico says, “You can imagine how grateful we are for the community’s support at this time! But now we have to plead for donors to stop. We hope the community will understand what’s happening and help us prevent theft by holding items until we are permitted to reopen. As a partner in your community for 79 years, Goodwill remains committed to advancing our mission to provide skills training, job development, and social services to New Mexicans. Our commitment is genuine now during these difficult times and will continue to be in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Thank you for your continued support of Goodwill and all those served! Watch as the thief below takes box after box of donations! We are abiding by the recent mandate from Governor Lujan, closing all non-essential businesses. But the generous donations keep coming. Donors are being asked to hold their drop-offs until stores and their donation centers reopen. Shauna Kastle, President, and CEO of Goodwill Industries of New Mexico says, “You can imagine how grateful we are for the community’s support at this time! But now we have to plead for donors to stop dropping-off items. We hope the community will understand what’s happening and help us by holding drop-offs until we are permitted to reopen. We know the public wants their donations to be used toward funding free programs and services for New Mexicans and not to be subject to loss or damage.” We understand people are in the midst of spring cleaning, and while working from home, they may be re-organizing their space. So, we will be ready to happily accept drop-off donations as soon our organization is back in operation. As a partner in the community for 79 years, Goodwill remains committed to advancing our mission to provide skills training, job development, and social services to New Mexicans. Our commitment is genuine now during these difficult times and will continue to be in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Thank you for your continued support of Goodwill and all those served! We have published a great list of resources available in the following communities: Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Los Lunas, Santa Fe, Clovis, Roswell, Gallup and Farmington. We hope this information helps if you are experiencing a need that is not served by one of our nine free programs. If you want to learn more about Goodwill's free programs and services visit the "Who We Help" page. Click on image for complete list We have temporarily suspended all group activities including training, classes and job fairs in response to state and federal requirements for social distancing. As our communities work together to keep you and your family safe, we would like to reassure you that your health and well-being are top priorities for us as well. As a mission-based nonprofit organization, Goodwill cares deeply for the program participants we serve, and the many donors, shoppers, employees that allow us to help others in our communities every day.
To those we serve through our mission and programs, we are very mindful of your health and well-being. It is our top priority. We continue to work hard to find solutions to provide the services you need while maintaining a healthy, safe environment. We have communicated to our employees regarding preventative practices and preparedness plans. Our employees are using CDC recommended handwashing health, and we are actively cleaning all common areas. We also continue to keep a close watch on the evolving situation and the guidance provided by the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and state and local governments. As a partner for more than 78 years, we remain committed to continuing our mission of helping people facing challenges build skills, find jobs, and grow their careers. This is true now during these difficult times as well as in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Thank you in advance for your patience as we determine how best to continue serving our communities, our employees, and you. Flowers, chocolates, and teddy bears are always a great way to show your valentine some love, but making something from scratch is even better! By getting a few inexpensive items from your local Goodwill, you can create something thoughtful and creative! Try this Kids DIY Valentine's Day Ornament! What you'll need:
You will need both the box lid and bottom to create your cardboard frame. Hold them together as you cut out a heart-shaped frame. When you're done, you should have two matching cardboard frames. You want the frame to measure about 5" x 5". Next, paint 25 puzzle pieces red, 25 white, and 25 pink. Once all the pieces are fully dry, you can begin hot gluing each one to the heart-shaped frame. Stagger each piece on the frame and try to keep colors separate from each other. Once all pieces are glued and dried, turn the decorated frame over and glue the twin frame on the back. Lastly, create a paper ribbon by cutting out a 1-inch thick rectangle with a length that's a little bit bigger than the width of your heart frame. Fold each end of the paper and cut out a triangle at each end to create that ribbon look. In red marker, write your love note on the ribbon and glue both ends to each side of the heart frame. And ta' da! You have a cute handmade valentine's gift! Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit. In 2019, we were able to serve over 20,000 New Mexicans because the donation volume was very healthy. But right now we need help! Our ability to reach another 20,000 New Mexicans with free programs and services, in 2020, is entirely dependent on the community’s response to this donation plea. The need is urgent. The best time for donating is today through the end of January. What happens to these donations? They fund our free programs and services. A single bag of donations can fund one hour of free job skills training or job placement assistance to an unemployed New Mexican! Donors are truly making a tremendous contribution to the community. And it’s why we say, “Every donation changes lives!” What type of items can be donated? • Clothing/Shoes • Handbags/Accessories • Holiday decorations • Jewelry • Furniture • E-waste • Home Décor/Artwork • Housewares/Linens • Exercise equipment • Small Kitchen Appliances • Electronics • Toys Goodwill has been serving New Mexicans for 78 years and currently offers nine free programs and services. 2020 indicators point to an increased need for veteran housing, specialized social services, skills training, and job placement for New Mexicans. This anticipated need is the motivation behind our donation plea. Goodwill makes donating as easy as possible by offering home pick-up across the metro and Rio Rancho, and 15 donation centers across the state. To find out if you are in a home-pickup zone or to locate the Goodwill donation center nearest to you visit www.goodwillnm.org. Please be one of the generous donors who respond to this urgent plea! 2020 is here! And you may be thinking of all the changes you would like to make this year. One easy change to make is decluttering! It only takes a few minutes to identify unwanted items in your home.
Here are the top 6 unwanted items to donate today:
All of these items and more can be dropped at the nearest Goodwill donation center! Our donation attendants will help you unload your vehicle. Home pickups are also available! Check here to find out if your zip code is in a service zone. Decluttering feels good. But changing lives feels amazing! Did you know that every donation generates revenue to fund our nine free programs and services? Your donations help homeless veterans, veteran families, and enable New Mexicans to secure community employment, and gain access to social services! That's why donating is a great way to begin the new year. What makes a Thanksgiving table complete? Not only turkey, mashed potatoes, and loved ones but also a great centerpiece! Simple decorations will make your meal more festive and memorable. And your favorite New Mexico Goodwill store offers perfect décor items! With just a little bit of creativity, you can wow your guests with holiday table decor that doesn’t break the bank. Try this affordable DIY centerpiece idea!
Pumpkin Patch Candleholders What you’ll need:
At your local Goodwill, purchase a few wine glasses. Three would be best and in varying sizes. Paint the goblet of each wine glass orange to create a pumpkin and paint the wine glass stem and base brown. Add a few stripes of brown and yellow to the orange area to represent the natural features of a pumpkin. If you really want to capture a natural look, use the sponge or rag to stipple the stripes on gently. As an optional step, spray fully dry glasses with a clear gloss finishing spray. Next, keeping the glasses upside down, add foliage where the goblet and stem meet. Leaves and wispy twigs are good choices and can be secured using hot glue, clear tape, string or floral wire. Finally, place a small votive candle on the upturned base. You’ll have created an inexpensive and beautiful handmade centerpiece! This Halloween, Goodwill® is partnering with MGM Studios for the release of The Addams Family, coming to theaters October 11. The story finds all our favorite Addams characters facing off against Margaux Needler, a reality television star, obsessed with the idea of "perfection." The movie follows the Addamses as they move away from New Jersey and into suburbia. And while their eccentricities are entertaining to many of the locals, Mrs. Needler isn't amused and launches a campaign to drive them out her idyllic neighborhood. Some of us remember, The Addams Family, was originally a New Yorker cartoon by Charles Addams which appeared in the publication for an astounding 50 years! The iconic Addams family has been adapted into many mediums including the beloved '90s TV series, films, and even a Broadway musical. And now, the animated movie prepares to become every kid's kookiest Halloween dream come true. The new film features the voice talents of modern favorites Charlize Theron, Oscar Isaacs, Nick Kroll, Allison Janney, Finn Wolfhard, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Bette Middler. The Addams Family, as the first family of Halloween, provides Goodwill with a major thematic opportunity to remind you that Goodwill is the place to find unique and authentic costumes. Keep one eye out and you may see the characters appear at your local Goodwill! Going back to school can be an exciting time in New Mexico! It's an opportunity for learning and growth. Experiences range from anxious Albuquerque moms preparing kids for the first day of kindergarten, eager UNM graduate students, to nervous Rio Rancho teenagers becoming high school freshman. Today's blog is all about capturing these experiences and creating a memento of the individual's commitment to self-improvement. Our idea is to create your memento with this DIY Back to School Time Capsule! (inspired from iheartcraftythings.com) It's a simple and fun way to document how you changed and grew throughout the year. All you need is a medium to large size Mason jar or another thrifted container, a few sheets of paper, markers, ribbon, stickers, etc. Decorate it as you please! Then, decide what you will place in the time capsule! Start with recording answers to intriguing questions like these:
(kids younger than ten may need help with some of these) 1. What are two goals I have for this year? 2. How will I achieve these goals? 3. What do I hope will change about me this year? 4. Right now, I spend most of my time ______________. 5. Today, my favorite song/book/video/series/game is ______________. 6. As I begin this year, I am most nervous about ______________. 7. One thing I would like to learn this year is __________________. Write out your questions and answers, fold the paper, and put it in the jar. Continue the process, filling the jar with some of your current favorite things or pics of your favorite things (make sure they aren't perishable because you can't open the jar until the last day of school!) Include a selfie from the first day of school too! Finally, close up the jar and place it somewhere safe and out of reach. After the last day of school open up your jar and see how your answers compare to your actual feelings and accomplishments. Did they change? Do you still love the same song? If things didn't go as planned, are you going to keep working on those goals or try something different? Have you tried creating a time capsule from a mason jar or similar thrifted container? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! And consider shopping at Goodwill for the most affordable back to school outfits. Affordability is the reason we say, "Thrifting takes you back to cool!" #Goodwillit #School CENTERPIECES It’s the small last minute details that can really make a holiday feel special! If you’re throwing a BBQ or small family picnic here are a few 4th of July decoration ideas that’ll add that patriotic feel! Using items found at Goodwill, you can make these decorations cheap while also helping support the programs and services we offer by purchasing from our stores! Materials: -Glass containers, Jars, or vases -Red, White, and Blue craft paint -Twine -Your choice of flowers For these centerpieces you’ll need just a few glass jars or vases from Goodwill, craft paint and your choice of flowers. They’re super easy to make and they create a homey rustic feel to your picnic. They all don’t have to be mason jars either. The more different each jar is the more unique your centerpiece will be. RUSTIC AMERICAN FLAG Materials: -Lace material (find a dress or table cloth) -Red fabric (red curtain, blanket, giant shirt) -Navy Blue Fabric (t-shirt, blanket, or curtain) - White Buttons or White fabric Paint -Rod or wooden stick for assembly -Hot glue /Glue gun This rustic flag might take a little longer than the centerpieces but it looks really beautiful and can even play as a nice backdrop for 4th of July selfies! This flag is meant to look rustic so finding all of your fabric/ribbon at your local Goodwill, will save you money and help you recycle material. When putting it together cut the white and red fabric to the desired length. The one pictured is 2’ long, however you can make it as big or as small as you want. Hot glue one end of each strip to the rod or wooden stick until you have 13 strips. Then cut out a rectangle from the navy blue fabric and glue one end to the far left side of the rod, on top of the strips of red and white fabric. Then lastly add the buttons (stars) on the navy blue fabric. You can paint white stars using fabric glue. However the buttons make it look more rustic! Then to finish it off, cut twine or rope the same length as the rod and tie each end to the ends of the rod. This is so you can hang your flag anywhere! PATRIOTIC SIGN Materials -Used wooden frame -Craft paint -Card Stock -Letter Stencils or Stickers (optional) This is another simpler one that doesn’t require many materials. Find a couple picture frames from goodwill and remove whatever picture is there and replace it with either, white, red, or blue cardstock. The next step is completely up to you. You can create hand lettered signs or print them out yourself. You can paint fireworks like the one pictured above! The options are endless. Browse the internet for more design ideas if you’re feeling stuck. We hope these DIY decorations help brighten your 4th of July! If you try one of these let us know, by tagging us on Facebook or Instagram at Goodwill NM. We’d love to see it! Founded in 1966, as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services providers. Think of CARF accreditation as the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for social service agencies such as Goodwill Industries of New Mexico (GINM), which strive for excellence in our day-to-day operations. “Being CARF accredited is vitally important to the future of our organization,” states Terry Armstrong, Chief Services Officer at GINM. Understanding that importance, every three years, we go through a survey to reaccredit our organization and the services that we provide. The survey process is an extensive examination of everything that we do at GINM, from ensuring that we are following federal laws regarding persons’ served privacy and rights, to keeping the aisles in our retail stores are accessible to all that shop them. The preparation for the survey takes about a year, and virtually every GINM employee is tasked with a piece of the survey. As of May 20, 2019, we are happy to announce that for the 30th consecutive year we have achieved CARF accreditation. Quick quiz—what screams summer, makes organizing a cinch in any place at all (even on the go!), and is waiting for you at your local Goodwill? Thrifted baskets! From burly laundry baskets to breezy woven seagrass, these permanently picnic-ready decor pieces will feel right at home in every room of your home and even out on adventures! Today we’ll highlight three quick and easy ways you can customize thrifted baskets for looks and functionality. To add trendy tassels you’ll need:
Step 1: Wrap the yarn around the book (or whatever you found) until it looks thick enough. I went around 18 times. Slide the loops off of the book and cut along one end. Step 2: With the yarn still folded in half, place a new length of yarn through the center of it. Then, lay that on top of another horizontal string. Double knot the horizontal piece of yarn around the tassel. You can wrap this around as many times as you want before tucking the ends inside the tassel if you want to (I kept it simple with mine). Step 3: Repeat steps one and two until you have enough tassels. Step 4: With the knots you just made placed against the basket, thread the top strings of the tassels through the basket and double knot them in place around the weave. If your basket’s weave is too tight for you to do this with just your fingers, use a tapestry needle to get through the narrow nooks. Do this, evenly spaced, all the way across the top of the basket. Next up, I loved the unique shape of this square basket that I spotted while out thrifting, but I knew that adding some handles would make it easier to carry while full. While I was at it, I figured I’d just slap on a chalkboard label, too, so I could stick it up high on a shelf if I wanted to and I’d still know what was inside. To add handles and a label you’ll need:
Step 1: Cut your thin wood to the right size for your label. I used a saw to slice a 3.25” long section of the paint mixing stick. After that, drill two small holes toward either end of the label. Sand all sides well then wipe off the dust. Paint with chalkboard paint according to the container’s instructions and let dry. Step 2: Measure two lengths of the belt to make the handles. Mine are each 6” long. Use the actual holes in the belt or add your own holes by hammering them in with scrap wood behind the belt. Step 3: Thread a length of string through the needle, position the handles and label (after it’s completely dry) wherever you’d like them, and thread them through the basket’s weave to the be secured with a knot on the inside. Try to stitch the needle between the weave of the basket if possible so you aren’t poking holes into the straw/wood itself. This last one is easy as pie and just as charming. I found this basket a couple of months ago and I love its size and shape so much. However, I noticed that since I keep it in a little nook in my bedroom, it tends to look pretty dark and shadowy over there. I was looking for a way to brighten this piece up and a fresh strip of white paint definitely helped! To get that paint-dipped look you’ll need:
Step 1: Tape off the section you want to paint making sure to cover everything you don’t want to be painted. Remember that paint (especially spray paint) can seep through the basket’s weave so you may want to fill the basket with paper on the inside, too. Press the tape firmly into place so nothing can sneak through! Step 2: In a well-ventilated area, paint the bottom with spray paint or by hand with a brush. Make sure you follow the directions on your paint to make sure you’re doing it safely. Each of these is just a quick afternoon project that adds personality to one of the most versatile items on Goodwill shelves. Pile ‘em high with picnic supplies, replace your beach bag with something boho, or get a grip on your indoor organization. You could even use your thrifted basket to tote donations in on your next thrift store trip! Goodwill is where your stuff goes to work and any baskets you buy there are sure to carry more than their fair share of the workload. Have fun making them your own! I always love making my own inexpensive versions of popular decor trends, so this spring I decided to tackle the floral wall hangings that I’ve been seeing around! By using supplies I found at Goodwill, I’m able to save money, save stuff from the landfills, and come up with something that’s one-of-a-kind. My version is inspired by forsythia, a spring staple in this neck of the woods. And it was super simple to make! Below are the materials I needed for this project. Many of them I already had at home, the rest went on my Goodwill shopping list: Materials - A tension/curtain rod or something similar - Fabric - Faux greenery or flowers (optional—you can make these from fabric, too) - Scissors - Hot glue and gun - Twine - Wooden beads - Wire cutters - Floral stem wire - Floral tape - Spray paint (optional for the curtain rod) Step 1: If you need to paint your curtain rod, do that first following the instructions on your paint. Step 2: Put on a movie or some music and start snipping! Making the flowers can take a while, but it’s pretty mindless work so you might as well have something fun on in the background. You’ll need lots of small bundles of greenery and tiny bunches of flowers. If you’re using thrifted faux flowers or greenery, use your wire cutters to trim them down. If you’re making your own flowers from thrifted fabric, start by just cutting out a lot of leaf-shaped petals in a few different sizes. Mine ranged in size from about a centimeter to an inch and a half tall. I did this by cutting long strips of my fabric then trimming those into the petals. That way I wasn’t dealing with a huge handful of fabric for every petal. Step 3: When you’ve got a decent selection of petals and stems (you can always make more later if you need to), plug in that glue gun and roughly organize your petals into small, medium, and large-sized piles. One petal at a time, carefully add a dab of glue to the bottom center of each petal and fold it in half over the glue to create the petal shape. When that has dried, position it on one side of a stem, add another dab of glue, and press carefully into place. Add a second petal to the other side and continue to build the flower, petal by petal, starting with large petals in the back and layering smaller ones in the front until it looks right to you. My flowers usually ended up with roughly five petals (two large, two medium, one small). If you are making your leaves from fabric, too, cut them the same way (maybe a little larger), but fold them around the floral stem wire and glue them there instead. Step 4: Begin arranging your flowers, leaves, and beads in lines (where the twine will hang) beneath the curtain rod so you can visualize how many you’ll need. I worked on this as I went so my hot glue gun was able to keep up with me. Continue until you have all the flora you need. Step 5: Bundle leaves, larger bundles of flowers and greenery, or thrifted faux-flowers together as necessary in small groups using floral tape. Step 6: When you have the layout the way you want it, lay out your lengths of string. Make sure you leave extra string so you’ll have plenty of room to tie it onto the curtain rod and to tie on the individual flowers. You can trim off the excess when you’re finished. Start attaching everything to the strings by working from one end of a string toward the other. To attach the flowers and small bunches of greenery, I would tie a tiny knot in the string where I wanted it, slide the stem inside, and tighten it carefully. You could add a dab of glue here if you’re concerned they may fall out. To attach the beads, the first option you have is to slide them onto the string and tie a knot just below them. I didn’t want a knot to show so I slid the bead onto the string then very carefully dabbed a bit of glue inside the bead and slid it up while it was still hot so the glue was entirely inside the bead as it dried. If you go this route, be very careful not to burn yourself! You’ll also want to make sure you pull the string taught while the glue dries so it doesn’t dry at an angle causing a kink in the string. Step 7: To make the lengths of greenery, use the stem wire as a base and layer on the greenery as needed. My sprigs had holes at the base where I could send the wire through then wrap it around the branch to keep it in place. If yours doesn’t have this, you could try gluing it on instead. You may need more than one stem wire for each length. If so, twist the wire together at their ends to attach them. Layer the sprigs on top of that overlap to mask it. Step 8: Attach each length of twine and wire to the rod. To do this, I tied knots for the twine and wrapped the stem wire around the rod several times for each. Step 9: Add one more piece of twine, thicker if necessary, tying it to both ends of the rod so you can hang it. Put the hanging up on your wall and trim any excess string. Then, just stand back and enjoy your new creation! Goodwill has a rich history since its beginnings in 1902. The organization holds itself accountable to a triple bottom line of people, planet and profit, so I feel like this Earth-inspired project made from thrifted bits and pieces fits right in. It adds so much spring spirit to my home!
You can shake yours up by choosing a different color scheme or going big with your flower petals. When it comes to the dowel part, anything that’s long and straight would work so don’t feel like it has to be a curtain rod. The options for customization are truly endless. Just have fun letting the sights of spring inspire your decor! Are you a stylish saver? A discount craver? Then get ready, because we’re about to reveal 4 ways to get coupons and discounts at Goodwill! 1. Shop on Monday All Goodwill Industries of New Mexico stores, except for the GoodBuys 99-cent store and Clearance Corner, offer 25% off your entire purchase every Monday. No coupon is required! The discount is automatically applied at checkout. 2. Become a VIP Shopper Sign up here or at any Goodwill store register to become a Goodwill VIP Shopper. Once a month, VIP’s receive an email with DIY project ideas, style tips, event announcements, and exclusive coupons. Only VIP Shopper’s get coupons! 3. Spend $20 or More Each time you spend 20 dollars or more at a participating Goodwill store, you’ll automatically receive 10% off coupon valid on your next purchase. 4. Connect on Facebook. Liking our Facebook page is an easy way to learn about our special sales. Most often, we advertise our sales exclusively on social media. So, now that you know all of our secrets, you can work that bargain! Goodwillit Now, Goodwill offers daytime and evening classes! Free training will help you get one step closer to the job you want. Our program is called GoodSkills. It is geared to New Mexicans who want to work and need to brush up on their job skills. Participants are enrolled in free classes and assigned to an experienced job developer who becomes their support person. Right now, Goodwill offers more free training than ever before and in 4 conveniently located training centers. Classes offered include: Computer Basics Email Essentials Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Customer Service Employment Skills Interview Skills Money Management Resume Building Job Search Job Applications PICK A DATE FROM THE TRAINING CALENDAR HERE Shirley was homeless and unemployed when she began taking the free classes offered at Goodwill’s training center at 5000 San Mateo Blvd in Albuquerque. Our program team helped her apply for one of our free programs called the Senior Community Service Employment Program or SCSEP. Within weeks, her Goodwill Case Manager connected Shirley with an employer and local housing resources. Seven months later, Shirley has a steady job and her apartment. Shirley’s story is not unique. Every day, New Mexicans are helped by the same free services that have benefitted Shirley. Those free services — which include job placement, job training, skills building, and employment services — are funded by donations to Goodwill’s retail operations. For example, a pair of jeans, when donated to Goodwill, can fund more than an hour of job skills training at a local Goodwill training center. Last year in New Mexico, 17,403 people accessed the Goodwill services they needed to succeed. At Goodwill Industries of New Mexico, we hope that this holiday season, everyone will fight for job creation, purpose and opportunity. Each of us can make a real difference by giving a financial gift or donating our unwanted items to Goodwill. Every donation changes lives by creating opportunities for others who are trying to find a job and build skills, including veterans and military families, single mothers, and many others, including New Mexicans like Shirley. Goodwill Industries International is a global social services enterprise and the leading nonprofit provider of job placement and training programs and career support services in the United States. To create these programs, a network of 161 Goodwill organizations sell donated clothes and other household items in more than 3,300 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Goodwill® uses the revenue earned from the sale of these goods to create job skills training and development and to provide other community-based services such as child care, financial education, free tax preparation, and mentoring. In fact, collectively, more than 87 percent of the revenue spent at Goodwill stores nationwide is reinvested in community-based services including free resume preparation, career counseling, interviewing skills and dress etiquette. Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is one of the 161 organizations contributing to this effort. Our mission is to provide skills training, job development, and social services to New Mexicans. If you have read this far then, we humbly ask you to share this information to highlight the benefit of shopping at Goodwill, both in terms of the unique items one can find and the impact on the community. You make a difference when you Bring Good Home! |
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