Goodwill Industries: It’s More than a Place to Donate Our Unwanted Items
We can all help Goodwill provide “not charity, but a chance”
Just about everybody has heard of Goodwill. We know it’s a place we can give unwanted items like clothing, furniture, electronics and whatnot. We say, “Oh, don’t throw that away – Goodwill will take it.” What a lot of people don’t realize is what Goodwill Industries actually is and what it does.
The organization was founded in 1902 by Rev. Edgar J. Helms in Boston. Helms’ created the “not charity, but a chance” philosophy that has guided Goodwill Industries in its nearly 120 years of service.
Today, there are more than 3,300 Goodwill stores in the United States; the organization has a presence in 14 countries, and in 2020 alone served almost 22 million people worldwide.
What Goodwill Industries does
Goodwill operates thrift stores, where items donated by the public can be purchased at extremely reasonable prices. With the generated revenue, Goodwill teams help people looking to improve their lives by providing training for rewarding careers in healthcare, IT, banking and other fields.
Goodwill Industries also provides support services for individuals who want to learn the English language and generally further their education. Goodwill in some communities provides access to transportation and child care.
In addition to materials donations, Goodwill accepts financial donations that help further its mission.
Shop online
Rev. Helms would have been shocked and thrilled to see how our advancing technology has allowed his organization to flourish. An online e-commerce site, ShopGoodwill.com, allows people shop conveniently from their homes or devices and access many bargains they probably wouldn’t find in their local brick-and-mortar Goodwills.
Goodwill benefits the environment
A major side benefit to Goodwill’s operation is the literal tons of stuff that gets diverted from dumps and landfills and ends up in the hands of people who can get a lot of use and enjoyment out of it.
Whether it’s clothing and accessories, children’s toys, home or office furniture, cookware and so many other items, Goodwill has been the place to turn for well over 100 years for new and close-to-new items at amazing prices.
The TGB Group believes strongly in the mission of Goodwill Industries. We support the organization, and we encourage everyone to “think Goodwill” before discarding household items that still have a lot of life left in them. Somebody, somewhere, will thank you for it.
The TGB Team