By Jaymie Eichorn

Most people are familiar with Goodwill’s donation sites and stores, but far fewer people are aware of how their donations and purchases help thousands of people in our community find hope, opportunity, and jobs. Here are a few facts about your local Kernersville Goodwill locations that may surprise you.

Goodwill is a Community-Based, Nonprofit Organization
Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has been serving our local community since 1926. One of 158 member agencies of Goodwill Industries International, the organization ranks among the top charities in the world for responsible stewardship of the community’s resources. Each Goodwill agency operates independently and is guided by its own Board of Directors who are volunteers. The Goodwill agency that serves Forsyth County is headquartered in Winston-Salem and covers 31 counties in the northwest third of North Carolina.

Goodwill Stores Exist to Fund Employment and Training Services
Goodwill’s 49 stores exist to fund the organization’s mission: Goodwill creates opportunities for people to enhance their lives through training, workforce development services, and collaboration with other community organizations. Each time you donate an item to Goodwill or shop in a retail or outlet store, you support programs that help thousands of people each year find jobs and reach financial stability. In fact, for every dollar you spend in a Goodwill store, 89 cents goes to support mission and sustainability. The Better Business Bureau says that a “good” charity channels at least 65% of revenues into mission-based services. At 89%, Goodwill far exceeds that minimum.

You May Know Someone Goodwill Has Helped
Each year, Goodwill serves more than 30,000 people in northwest North Carolina through a variety of workforce development services including:
· Programs for veterans and their families.
· Youth programs that help people get on the path to a successful future.
· Skills training classes in partnership with 11 community colleges, including Forsyth Tech, that provide training in high-growth industries such as healthcare, skilled trades, professional truck driving, and customer service.
· Employment services and programs for persons with disabilities.
· Career services and job placement assistance.
· Virtual services including webinars, workshops, and job fairs.
· Access Center Adult High School, in partnership with Forsyth Tech, giving adults the chance to earn their high school diplomas.
· And many more services are offered for the unemployed, underemployed, or those who simply want to hone their skills or find their next great opportunity.

Goodwill services are funded by the revenue generated in Goodwill’s stores, and therefore are offered at no cost to the community. Some skills training classes have a fee that is charged by the community college; however, Goodwill provides financial assistance for those who qualify.

Goodwill is a New Store Every Day
With new inventory arriving throughout the day, Goodwill stores are a treasure trove of brand name clothing and household goods, unique finds and one-of-a-kind items, and bargains on everything from shoes to electronics and toys to mixing bowls. For DIY enthusiasts, Goodwill is a great resource for raw materials for upcycling. The outlet store on Peters Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem offers “buy-the-pound” pricing for even deeper discounts and bulk purchases. Looking for gift ideas this season? Give the gift of hope and opportunity with a gift card to Goodwill, available for purchase at all Goodwill store locations.

Goodwill is a Great Place to Work and Grow
Goodwill employs 1,100 people in northwest North Carolina in a wide variety of jobs, including human resources, information technology, marketing, finance, and workforce development. Goodwill stores are always looking for friendly, hard-working people and the starting wage is $11 per hour. Plus, full-time employees are eligible for excellent benefits including health coverage, sales incentives, tuition reimbursement, and a pension plan. Want a rewarding career where your work benefits your community? Visit www.JobsAtGoodwill.org for a list of job openings.

Thrifting Helps the Environment
Most of us think of recycling as something you do with newspapers and plastic bottles, but you also help the environment when you donate to or shop at Goodwill. Purchasing secondhand clothing and household items saves energy, natural resources, and transportation costs associated with producing and shipping new goods. Goodwill’s donation centers provide a convenient option for unwanted goods. In the last year alone, Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina’s donated goods operations diverted 42 million pounds of unwanted items that could have ended up in our landfills. In partnership with Dell, Goodwill offers environmentally responsible recycling of consumer electronics including computers, printers, monitors – any brand, any condition – with 100% landfill diversion.

I hope this has provided you with a better idea of how your Goodwill is impacting your community. To learn more about Goodwill’s mission visit www.GoodwillNWNC.org. The Goodwill Retail Store is located at 344 North Main Street, Kernersville and the Goodwill Donation Center is located at 811 S Main Street, Kernersville.