https://www.goodwill.org/blog/ Nonprofit organization. Helping individuals, families and communities build brighter futures. Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:01:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.goodwill.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/favicon-2.png https://www.goodwill.org 32 32 https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-alexis/ Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:01:28 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/?p=782897 For Alexis, life has always been about adapting. Problems arise; things change, but she has always been able to find a new path forward.   Her professional journey started as a paraprofessional in Florida. She loved being around students, getting to see their lives change and sharing her knowledge. Eventually, Alexis transitioned into food service management, where she said she continued to teach, but to professionals instead of students.   In 2018, Hurricane Michael hit and Alexis was forced to rebuild her life. She moved to Minneapolis but later had to return to Florida briefly to care for her mother.  Eventually, Alexis dec]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-belen/ Thu, 14 May 2026 15:11:40 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/?p=782738 In the U.S., every May is Older Americans Month. This celebration highlights the achievements and contributions of older adults. At Goodwill®, we support more than 200,000 seniors every year to find employment or advance out of low wage work.   That support can look like digital skills training, résumé preparation or career navigation. It is often done through our Goodwill Opportunity Accelerator® (OA), a framework that helps people grow and build in-demand skills tailored around their interests and talents.    Belen first found out about the services offered through Goodwill Industries of South Texas (Corpus Christi) whe]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-tajay/ Fri, 08 May 2026 16:16:51 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/?p=782732 What motivates you to accomplish your goals? For Tajay, it’s making his mother proud. This Mother’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate the encouragement and support that moms provide through the story of what Tajay has achieved.   Tajay came to the U.S. alone without his support system. He wanted to make changes to his life and provide for himself. That’s when he met someone from Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region (Tacoma, WA) while he was staying at a youth homeless shelter. The connection was life-changing for Tajay.   He started working at the Goodwill® operations center and excelled. It was quickly cl]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-corey/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:37:55 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/?p=782387 World Book Day is often about the stories that transport us, and for Corey, his story came to life through technical manuals and digital scripts that could transform his future. It began with a recommendation from a family member and a conversation with Danielle, a career navigator at Goodwill of the Heartland (Cedar Rapids, IA). Together, they utilized the Goodwill Opportunity Accelerator® (OA), a personalized framework designed to meet individuals exactly where they are.  For Corey, that journey began with a career matching quiz and a deep dive into his existing strengths. “We went over different positions and picked a list]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-blog-robert/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:37:08 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/?p=782381 When Robert first connected with Goodwill Southern Arizona (Tucson) through the Pima County Adult Probation Office, he wasn’t just looking for a paycheck. He was looking for a career path that could sustain a different kind of life. He knew that a full life transition required more than just a “help wanted” sign; it required a strategy.  Robert enrolled in the Ignite 2.0 program with a specific goal: to increase his earning potential and find a stable, high-paying career. While he already had the drive, he used the program to gather the necessary tools, working through a six-week college capacity workshop, earning]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/general/my-goodwill-story-paul/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:13:17 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/?p=780940 Every January marks Get Organized Month. We all want to start the year clutter free and feel put-together (remember that your local Goodwill® donation center can help with that). Organization is also a helpful skill to have on the job; that’s something Paul found out when he came to Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Inc. (South Bend, IN). Fixing Up a New Career  He was always handy around the house and loved to fix things. That inspired him to find a career in construction, but he needed proper training to get started. Paul shared his dream with a Goodwill career coach. If you didn’t know, Goodwill thrift stores fund programs ]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-robert/ Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:26:04 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/?p=782374 National Clean Out Your Closet Week (March 15–21) is about more than clearing space; it’s about creating room for new opportunities. At Goodwill®, donations fuel mission services that help people build skills, find employment and achieve greater independence. Robert’s journey is a powerful example of how those opportunities can transform lives.  Robert came to Goodwill after hearing about services through Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services. He was also receiving Supported Community Living services through Goodwill. After being unemployed for some time, Robert made a pivotal decision: he wanted support to return to work and re]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-valerie/ Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:31:05 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/?p=782377 Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate resilience, growth and the power of opportunity. At Goodwill®, we see those qualities every day in the women who come through our doors — women who are ready to rebuild, redefine their futures and take the next step toward meaningful careers. Valerie’s story is one of those journeys.  When Valerie first arrived at Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois (Peoria), she was determined to rebuild her life while completing probation. Like many individuals navigating career transitions, she faced multiple challenges: limited digital skills, uncertainty about today’s job market and que]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-jennifer-2/ Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:42:15 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/?p=781668 February is Declutter for a Cause month, so it’s the perfect time to clean out your closet and take some boxes to your local Goodwill®. When you do, you could be supporting someone like Jennifer who worked hard to advance her career, despite living through a devastating hurricane, and just needed a little extra help at the finish line.  Jennifer was working at Walmart when she saw a poster in the pharmacy advertising a pharmacy technician training program. It was an exciting opportunity to advance her career, so she quickly signed up.   Six months into her schooling, Hurricane Ian hit Florida, and Jennifer’s home was destroyed]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-joshua/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:28:55 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/?p=781665 In honor of Black History Month, we’re celebrating the individuals whose journeys embody resilience, purpose and pride. Joshua’s story stands out as a powerful example.   Not many people can say they were shot nine times and survived, but that’s what happened to Joshua. When he was initially brought to the hospital, doctors didn’t think he’d pull through. After months on the mend, the next challenge was being able to walk again. Medical staff thought it was unlikely due to the severity of Joshua’s injuries. But they underestimated his perseverance.   He beat the odds and was able to walk again, albeit w]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-justin/ https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-justin/#respond Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:12:12 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/blog/general/my-goodwill-story-justin/ As you start this new year, you might be reflecting on what you accomplished and what you hope to do in the upcoming year. Setting goals can be an excellent way to continue advancing and building a life you love. Justin had a goal, too. He wanted to graduate from high school, but sometimes life forces us in a different direction.]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-justin/feed/ 0 https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-annalessy/ https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-annalessy/#respond Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:39:15 +0000 https://www.goodwill.org/blog/general/my-goodwill-story-annalessy/ It’s that time of year when we start thinking about the future: what we want to accomplish, who we want to be and where we want to go. For Annalessya, that future is now full of new possibilities.  ]]> https://www.goodwill.org/blog/impact-spotlight/my-goodwill-story-annalessy/feed/ 0