Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is pleased to announce the continuation of the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP). After four, very successful, years serving veterans in this program, Goodwill Industries of New Mexico applied for and was awarded another three-year grant to administer this life-changing program. The purpose of HVRP is to place homeless veterans in long-term employment, as well as provide social services. A qualifying participant could expect to receive job skills training, job search assistance, subsidized trial employment, job placement support, vocational counseling, case management and referrals to additional resources. A primary goal of the HVRP program team is to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problem of veterans facing homelessness and unemployment. For information on Goodwill's Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program, please contact: Staci Pennartz at spennartz@goodwillnm.org, call (505)881-6401 or visit our program web page.
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New Mexicans of all ages are heading back to school and Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is helping in more ways than one! First, we have fantastic prices on back to school clothing, shoes and accessories. For example, savvy shoppers know they will find a great selection of kids’ jeans for $2.09 at most of our stores. Adult jeans start at only $ 5.49! However, we offer more than great prices on new and gently worn clothing. We also have free classes for adults who are interested in improving their job skills. Classes are offered through our Gateway to Work program. Gateway to Work is a personalized path to success that focuses on those who are ready, willing and committed to joining the workforce. So you see, Goodwill is here to help people of all ages as they pursue education. Shop mostly designer labels and brand names for less at our GoodThreads store on Alameda! GoodThreads is different from every other Goodwill location. The contemporary urban atmosphere offers racks and racks of designer merchandise, jewelry, accessories, and shoes. Shoppers will find hand-selected merchandise marked at incredible prices. Store Manager, Damon Watson says, "I'm amazed myself at the items we have available. People who love trends are drawn here for the brands and the prices. It's possibly the best-kept secret in Albuquerque retail!" He jokingly added, "of course, we'd like for it NOT to be a secret!" Ready for a whole new way to Goodwillit? Then come and shop the Goodwill GoodThreads store at 3401 NM528, Albuquerque, NM 87114 For Goodwill Industries of New Mexico, every day is an occasion to honor America’s veterans and offer assistance to those who have worn the uniform of our armed services. As a leading provider of job training programs, Goodwill® is dedicated to helping serve those who have served our nation. In communities throughout New Mexico, Goodwill strives to provide programs and services to veterans, allowing them to re-enter civilian life as seamlessly as possible. One of those programs is Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). The SSVF program assists very-low income veteran families stabilize their housing situation and much more. “The SSVF program focuses on veterans and their family members who are most at risk for homelessness or who are already homeless,” said President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of New Mexico, Mary Best. Goodwill’s SSVF program provides eligible veteran families with the following: Case management, community referrals and assistance with VA benefits. The program also helps veterans and their families move into or remain in permanent housing with third-party payments for move-in costs, rent, security deposits, moving/storage, utilities that are past due, utility deposits, child care and much more. All services are free to those who qualify. Veterans and their families interesting in participating or in learning more about the SSVF program can call (505) 881-6401 or by visiting our SSVF page online. Did you realize that, by shopping at and donating to Goodwill, you can help people find employment, build their work skills and contribute to a healthier planet? It’s true! Every year, people clean out their closets and homes to start fresh for the spring season. This Earth Day, Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is encouraging people to live more sustainable lifestyles and help people in their local communities find jobs. Also, New Mexicans can shop their local stores and save money while collectively diverting more than eleven millions pounds of materials from local landfills. Goodwill’s donation-resale model extends the life of clothing and other goods and earns revenue for Goodwill job training programs, employment placement services, and other crucial social services for veterans, veteran families, senior citizens and individuals with brain injuries. Donating to Goodwill is a simple way to begin living more sustainably! Revenue raised through the sale of donated goods creates employment opportunities and funds social services to help change the lives of New Mexicans in need. This is all accomplished through the simple act of cleaning out a closet. Committing to reduce, reuse and repurpose this Earth Day is as simple as heading to the nearest Goodwill store or donation center! You would be surprised at the incredibly lucky finds you can discover at Goodwill. In the spirit of St. Patrick’s day and with some luck ‘o the Irish we found more amazing finds to share with you.
She was Framed! An unsuspecting artist picked up a $9.99 painting at her local Goodwill. She only wanted the frame because it was a perfect size for her personal artwork. An eagle-eyed friend noticed the art had a gallery tag on the back and suggested researching it. $34,000 later the artist was glad she stopped at Goodwill and thankful to her gal pal who pointed out the potential prize! 190,000 Reasons to Love Thrifting at Goodwill Leroy loved second-hand shopping at Goodwill. On one special shopping trip, he noticed a framed oil painting which appeared to be quite old. Leroy was thrilled because he guessed his $3 find could be worth several hundred dollars. Leroy happily hung the framed piece on his wall and went on with daily life. It was his inquisitive daughter-in-law who brought the picture to the popular Antiques Roadshow to research its history. Leroy learned his $3 oil painting was from the mid 17th century. He sold it through an auction for an unbelievable $190,000. What Time is it? Next time you're at Goodwill don't pass up a chance to sort through the boxes brimming with jewelry and watches. Zach Norris took a minute to look at watches and discovered a 1959 Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm watch worth over $35,000! How much did Zach pay for his treasure? Only $5.99. We hope you've enjoyed Part II of our Lucky Finds series. Can you make these kinds of discoveries at your local Goodwill? You bet you can! But you have to come in! Hint...hint Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit. In 2017, we were able to serve 17,403 New Mexicans because our donation base was very healthy. But right now we need help. Our ability to reach another 17,000 New Mexicans with free programs and services is entirely dependent on the community’s response to this unprecedented donation plea. The need is urgent and the time for donating is now through March 31, 2018. This is a time when donors can truly embrace the satisfaction of their action making a difference. If you ever wondered, “does one person matter”? Consider that a single bag or box of donations can provide 1 hour or more of free job skills training or job placement assistance to a New Mexican in need. You matter! Every bag of donations matters! We will gladly accept these gently used items: • Clothing/Shoes • Handbags/Accessories • Jewelry • Furniture • Home Décor/Artwork • Housewares/Linens • Small Kitchen Appliances • Electronics Goodwill has been serving New Mexicans for 76 years and currently offers nine free programs and services. 2018 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 in limited zip codes across the metro and Rio Rancho, and 14 attended 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! When you drop off your donations at Goodwill, you’ll receive a receipt from a donation attendant. Hang on to this receipt – at the end of the year, you can claim a tax deduction for clothing and household items that are in good condition.
But how do you know what your donations are worth? The U.S. Internal Revenue Service requires you to value your donation when filing your return. We found a few resources that might be helpful. Goodwill’s Donation Valuation Guide Our simple 2-page guide features estimates for the most commonly donated items. The guide assumes your items are in good condition. Please remember the prices are only estimated values. Download our donation valuation guide now. Online Donation Tracker Want to manage your donation records electronically? Goodwill has partnered with CharityDeductions.com to help you keep track of your donated items and their value throughout the year. Get started for free today and enter the promo code goodwill to save 20 percent off of a paid membership. IRS Publication 561 This publication is designed to help donors and appraisers determine the value of property (other than cash) that is given to qualified organizations. It also explains what kind of information you must have to support the charitable contribution deduction you claim on your return. Go to IRS Publication 561. Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is proud to announce the construction of a new store and services facility in Los Lunas. "We believe our new Los Lunas location will complement the momentum of economic development in the state’s fastest-growing area," said Mary Best, President, and CEO of Goodwill Industries of New Mexico. "This facility will feature a retail store, donation center, and free services including job skills classes and job placement assistance.” The 14,500 square-foot facility, located at 201 Desert Willow Road NW 87031, is set to open its doors in the fall of 2018 and will create as many as 20 new jobs. The design will mimic the bright, contemporary feel of Goodwill's Bernalillo store. Shoppers can expect a broad selection of gently used clothing for the entire family as well as household items, decor, and furniture. The convenient donations center will provide a quick and easy way to donate unwanted items. Most importantly, Goodwill remains dedicated to fulfilling their mission to provide skills training, job development, and social services to New Mexicans expecting the Los Lunas location to serve more than 200 New Mexicans in the first year through free job placement and training programs. Shauna O’Cleireachain explains, “It is important to understand that we rely entirely on donations and revenue generated by sales of those donated items which helps thousands of individuals every year. In fact, 90 cents of every dollar we spend are used to fund our free programs and services. That means every donation and purchase made at the Los Lunas location ultimately helps the community.” Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is entering the 76th year as a non-profit service provider in New Mexico. In 2016 alone, Goodwill served 17,132 New Mexicans and placed 1,242 of those individuals into community-based employment. Albuquerque, NM — Goodwill Industries of New Mexico wants to remind you how vitally important it is to donate your unwanted items before the end of the year. Donations are essential to Goodwill’s ability to offer free programs and services to New Mexicans. Every time you donate to Goodwill, you are helping someone find a job in our community; a homeless veteran find housing; a brain injury patient learn new skills and so much more. What better gift can you give at the end of the year than the gift of stability?
The most urgently needed items are: • Housewares • Home Décor/Artwork • Sporting Equipment • Small Kitchen Appliances • Electronics • Furniture • Tools • Furniture • Jewelry While there is no question that every individual donation changes lives there are other worthwhile benefits to you including a charitable tax deduction and even more space in your closet or garage! Donating is incredibly easy. Not only does Goodwill have 13 conveniently located donation centers but also offers free home pick-up in specific zip codes. Find a complete list of acceptable donations, locate the Goodwill donation center nearest you or schedule a home pick-up. Goodwill Industries of New Mexico was founded in 1941 with the mission to provide skills training, job development, and social services for New Mexicans. Goodwill® provides a wide array of free programs and services to individuals in 33 counties of the state. To date, in 2017 Goodwill has served 15,002 individuals and placed 1265 in competitive community employment. “What if you had the customer service, computer skills and professional skills you needed before you interviewed for a job,” asks Steve Wachter, Goodwill Program Director, “that knowledge would put you in a better position than other candidates.” Goodwill's Customer Service Training Program aims to help job seekers gain knowledge that offers them a real advantage over competing applicants. It is a free two-week training course specifically designed to prepare individuals for a customer service role in nearly any industry including retail, hospitality, and the rapidly expanding call centers. Goodwill Industries of New Mexico, whose mission is “to provide skills training, job development, and social services to New Mexicans,” saw the need and opportunity to provide specialized training in customer service. The resulting program, which held its first training class in July of 2016, also offers participants the chance to meet face-to-face with Human Resource representatives actively looking for employees with skilled training. Like all Goodwill programs and services, the Customer Service Training Program is provided free of charge to New Mexicans. Mary Best, President & CEO of Goodwill Industries of New Mexico commented, “we hope to help hundreds of New Mexicans in gaining long-term, sustainable and well-paying jobs in New Mexico’s expansive call center and customer service industries.” The local news frequently reports on the thousands of jobs that are available in our area. Those employers are eager to find qualified, trained, enthusiastic candidates to fill the positions! APPLY NOW! For more information about Goodwill and its Customer Service Training Program, as well as other free programs and services offered, visit the Who We Help page on this site! Understanding who provides resources during a community emergency is valuable knowledge for everyone. Many of us have, at least, heard of Red Cross or The Salvation Army, even if we don’t know exactly what they provide. In particular, these organizations are considered “relief agencies”, and there are many more relief agencies doing the important work of aiding in recovery. Typically, relief agencies will provide food, water, shelter and often clothing to individuals in emergency situations. Disaster relief is an invaluable mission. However, relief is not the mission of Goodwill.
Yes but…Goodwill has lots of clothes and other items! So why doesn’t Goodwill give them to people who are in need? Great question and we understand the association, but Goodwill is not setup to be a relief agency; it’s not our expertise. Goodwill’s expertise however, is to facilitate access to another sustaining need, employment. Goodwill’s mission is to offer free skills training, job development and social services to New Mexicans. We serve a unique role that benefits individuals who are in the final recovery phase of an emergency management situation. Our free programs and services are available as soon as an individual is ready to return to work after an emergency. For many, Goodwill is the final step in regaining financial independence and completing their journey to full recovery after a disaster. To learn more visit http://www.goodwillnm.org/who-we-help.html Have you seen the new Spider-Man movie? It delivers all the action Spider-Man fans crave! And this time around Spidey (actually Sony Pictures) is partnering with Goodwill to drop the idea of being a community hero right inside our shopping carts! Why? Because when you support their mission to help people who are facing challenges to finding employment overcome their hardships and achieve independence through the power of work, that kind of makes you a superhero, too. And, as any true Spider-Man fan knows, with great power comes great responsibility so this is one small thing you can do to help your community. It all started with an awesome DIY contest challenging Goodwill shoppers to create a Spider-Man suit. The winner was Tiffany Mink (@tiffmink) who turned a red dress found at her local Goodwill store into a full-fledged, head-to-toe super hero outfit. Her video showing how she created the suit, along with the submissions from the other finalists, can be viewed at spidermandiy.com. Entrants were encouraged to put their super hero love to work alongside their senses of style, and to act as community heroes by sourcing materials for their suits from Goodwill, where the sale of donated goods creates job preparation, skills training, education assistance and support services for people who face challenges to finding employment. Tiff’s purchases equate to 40 minutes of job search training for a Goodwill participant. “Tiffany’s crafty sense of style and creative approach set her apart from the crowd,” said Jim Gibbons, president, and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “She captivated our attention by combining the can-do attitude that makes Spider-Man a longtime fan favorite with the DIY aesthetic Goodwill shoppers have cultivated for more than a century.” Links to the sources of this blog article are embedded in the copy. Sources: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8133751-goodwill-diy-spider-man-costume-contest/ and http://www.goodwill.org/blog/shop/cast-your-web-at-goodwill-this-summer/
Goodwill, the leading nonprofit provider of employment placement, job training and education services, has been ranked #1 on the annual World Value Index, an anticipated annual report that ranks world-class organizations by measuring and ranking each brand’s overall World Value, according to people’s perceptions. In the rankings, Goodwill leads Amazon, Google, Kellogg’s, Microsoft and other Fortune 100 and 500 brands. “The gratification that comes with this ranking is twofold: it attests to our work, and acknowledges that Goodwill’s purpose resonates among the communities that we serve,” said Mary Best, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of New Mexico, “Goodwill is honored to be featured on this list of world-class brands and be recognized as the #1 brand based on our value and the impact we have in communities across the world.” To earn the World Value Index top ranking on the survey, Goodwill scored extremely well in the four areas of creating World Value, which refer to public perceptions of a brand’s purpose or mission.
To read the full World Value Index report, go to http://enso.co/worldvalue. What about Goodwill Industries of New Mexico? Goodwill Industries of New Mexico was founded in 1941 with the mission to provide skills training, job development, and social services for New Mexicans. Goodwill® provides a wide array of free programs and services to individuals in 33 counties of the state. In 2016 Goodwill served 17,132 individuals and placed 1242 in competitive community employment, and is on track for even greater numbers in 2017. This includes job skill training and placement, as well as several programs specifically aimed at assisting Veterans, and brain injury patients. 90-cents of every dollar spent at Goodwill of New Mexico retail stores, is applied directly to support programs and services. Inexpensive fashion is easier to find than you realize. Just ask some of Albuquerque’s favorite local thrift style Influencers! Albuquerque thrifting experts like Tara Ortiz and Brianna Maez are making it easy and fun to enjoy thrift chic fashion. Goodwill Industries of New Mexico wants you to experience the fun of shopping for thrift chic fashion too! So we have planned a very special event, and we’re calling it Goodwill’s Thrift Chic Challenge. The challenge is for you to come in and find a great outfit or even just one item that you absolutely love! Take a picture while wearing the item, post it on social media, tag @goodwillnewmexico and we will hand you a $5 Goodwill gift card! No purchase is necessary! Wait, what? Yep! It’s that easy and that fun! Mark your calendar for Friday, May 12th from 4pm – 7pm at our GoodThreads store. Bring some friends and join us! Style consultants will be on hand to point out amazing items, and you can register to win a pearl necklace (pictured right) from Shelton Jewelers valued at $100! Please be sure to follow us on Instagram for daily event posts and let us know you love the idea by using two hashtags: #thiftchicchallenge and #goodwillfinds! So, who are the local thrift fashion Influencers that we have chosen to represent this fun idea? First, meet Brianna Maez known on Instagram at @hippe.bria. She started influencing Albuquerque and beyond with her thrift finds online two years ago. She describes her style as “hippie chic” and enjoys thrifting for its creativity! Brianna loves Goodwill because “it's affordable and has so many different types of styles to choose from.” When asked to share advice, Brianna said, “My advice to someone who is curious about thrift shopping for clothes is just to TRY IT! It's a chance to find something that is unique! You might find something that perfectly suits you!” We also selected @prettylittlepueblo to join us for this event. Tara Ortiz, known as @prettylittlepueblo on Instagram is an emerging Albuquerque thrift Influencer. She began sharing thrift finds online a few months ago. Tara describes her style as comfortable, casual, and trendy with flexibility to move from classic, boho, dressy, or casual depending on her mood and the day's events. Goodwill is one of the places she visits most often because she always finds something unexpected at a fraction of the original cost. Her favorite part of thrift shopping is finding that hidden gem at a steal! Tara states, “There is so much satisfaction knowing I am spending money wisely as a mom and wife. It also allows me to buy more!” Tara’s thrift shopping advice is, “go often and carve out time to search the racks, also be open to trying different sizes.” You would be surprised at the incredibly lucky finds you can discover at Goodwill. In the spirit of St. Patrick’s day and with some luck ‘o the Irish we found some of the best finds of all to share with you.
$8000 Cash Hey! I’ll take that shirt! Can you believe that someone found a cool $8000 in the pocket of a shirt at a Goodwill store in California? It happened this year, and while it’s an exciting find, we have to let you know that the money was returned to the gentleman who donated the shirt. So it turns out the donor is the lucky one in this story. Olympic Gold (almost) Seeking treasures of historical value? According to a news story from KOBI5.com one treasure seeker found a Nike “Swift Suit” prototype, custom made and worn by Olympic runner Michael Johnson from the 2000 Olympic game trials. And guess what? The treasure hunter stands to profit some fast bucks from his find. He purchased the suit for only a few dollars but has it listed on ebay.com for $25,000. Whirlpool washer and dryer for $1.98 Talk about money laundering. One bargain hunter was in the right Goodwill at the right time when she found a Whirlpool washer and dryer for only $1.98. And that’s not all! The same shopper also claims some other finds such as: cash in pockets and never worn designer shoes for .99! A $100,000 vase for $4.99 According to the saavy folks with Antiques Roadshow one couple has a true treasure on their hands. The couple found an attractive vase for $4.99 and decided to buy it. Once appraised they learned the vase was made by the Overbeck sisters of Indiana sometime in the late 19th century and it’s true worth was between $50,000 and $100,000. Can you make these kinds of discoveries at your local Goodwill? You bet you can! But you have to come in! Hint...hint February is the month for love, and we want some of the action too. So let’s talk about why you should love thrift shopping for clothing at Goodwill. We are willing to bet you are wearing clothing...right now…while you are reading this. How do you feel about the money you spend on clothing? Are designer jeans a must-have item? Do you love a certain brand because it fits you perfectly? Do you have children who all seem to need a bigger size every other month? We get it. Everyone has preferences, and this is what makes clothes shopping at Goodwill so great.
#1 - Finding great clothes for very low prices is arguably the number one reason to love Goodwill. The question is not "if" you will find the perfect piece but "when". You may want to hit several of our locations in the same day or make more than one trip a week because we stock hundreds of new items every day! So whether you want adorable cut-off shorts for a mid-winter trip to Cancun or need a trendy trench coat for around town, you will be able to find it for less here. #2 - Finding brand new items with the store tags still attached. Yes, it happens all the time. Not only do we receive gently used items but also we receive brand new donations. More than you might imagine. These perfectly preserved treasures are just waiting for a thrifty shopper to come along and scoop them up. #3 - Never pay more than $5 for a pair of designer jeans.* At any given point in time, we have hundreds if not thousands of pairs of jeans. Many of these are expensive designer brands such as True Religion, Calvin Klein, Lucky Brand, Miss Me, Wrangler, Diesel, Hollister, American Eagle and others. All Men’s and Women’s jeans are marked at $5.49. On Mondays, you can save 25% making an amazing pair of jeans the extra amazing price of $4.11. *Excludes Santa Fe where prices differ. So we are here waiting for you with all of our low-priced treasures. And we love that you love to save! Find the store nearest you! You may have seen all the recent news stories about new Call Centers like Safelite and the thousands of jobs they are bringing to our area. At last count, there were more than 40 call centers in the Albuquerque Metro area alone with approximately 12,000 positions. Did you know that Goodwill offers job seekers a jump on those incoming call center jobs! Imagine going into an interview already prepped with the skills and training you needed for the job. That knowledge would put you in a way better position than other candidates! Preparing individuals for a call center career is the focus of Goodwill’s Call Center Training Program. It is a free three-week training course specially designed to prepare individuals for the role of a call center customer service associate. We saw the need and opportunity to provide specialized training in the call center field. The resulting program, which held its first training class in July of 2016, also provides participants the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Call Center Human Resource representatives looking for employees with skilled training. And like all Goodwill services, the Call Center Training Program is provided free of charge to New Mexicans. Want to know more or apply for the Call Center Training Program? CLICK HERE! Zachary was on the verge of homelessness, had never been employed, and had limited computer skills. He was looking for his first “real job” when he came to Goodwill for help. He applied for our free Gateway to Work Program and immediately began attending our Goodskills classes including MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Powerpoint. Within a few weeks, Zachary learned how to create a professional resume and had practiced interviewing techniques. He diligently met with his Goodwill Case Manager and followed-up on all the job leads provided to him. Within two months, he found employment and is now working full-time. Zachary's story is not unique. Every day, around the country, people are helped by the same kind of free services that have benefitted Zachary. 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 used computer, when donated to Goodwill, can fund more than four hours of career counseling at a Goodwill center. Last year in New Mexico, nearly 15,000 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 simply by giving a financial gift or donating our stuff to Goodwill. Rest assured, when you do that, you create opportunities for others who are trying to find a job and build skills, including veterans and military families, single mothers, youth and many others, including people like Zachary. Here’s wishing you and your family the very best holiday season and a joyous new year. It’s November which means that you have probably already seen 8-10 donation requests from non-profit organizations. It’s not a coincidence. The year-end giving season is a big deal. Nearly one-third (31%) of annual giving occurs in December.
End of year giving is especially important to Goodwill Industries of New Mexico because we rely entirely on donations to fund the ten free programs and services we offer. In fact, 88 cents of every dollar generated by the sale of your generous donation is used to fund these programs and services. When you donate your stuff to Goodwill Industries of New Mexico, you create opportunities for individuals in your community looking to find a job and build skills, including veterans and military families, seniors, individuals with brain injuries and many others. In 2015, Goodwill nationally helped more than 9.8 million people access the career, family and financial support services they needed to succeed. In New Mexico alone we helped nearly 15,000 individuals and when you donate your impact doesn’t end there. Last year we recycled 11,390,179 pounds of materials and kept it out of New Mexico landfills. With so much good resulting from each donation, you can see why we want to end the year strong by receiving as many donations as possible. Will you donate to Goodwill Industries of New Mexico before December 31, 2016? |
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