Goodwill Industries of the Valleys has long been a cornerstone of community support, offering far more than just a place to donate unwanted items. As a nonprofit organization with a rich history dating back to 1931, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys has consistently evolved to meet the changing needs of society while maintaining its core mission of empowering individuals through employment opportunities.
Today, Goodwill stands as a multifaceted organization that not only provides affordable shopping options but also serves as a vital economic driver, sustainability champion, and community builder. In this blog post, we’ll explore five compelling reasons why donating to Goodwill is a decision that benefits your local community, the environment, and individuals seeking to improve their lives through meaningful work.
Nonprofit that supports the community
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is a non-profit that supports our community. Goodwill does more than employ local residents at its stores and donation centers. It helps job seekers with career counseling, career training and job search assistance.
Goodwill also provides day support programs for individuals with intellectual, emotional and physical disabilities. The Discovery Services program encourages independence for the clients it serves by providing skill development opportunities and structured group activities.
Economic driver with satisfied employees
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys employs more than 900 workers throughout central, southwest and southside Virginia. The organization serves as a vital economic engine for cities across Virginia, including Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Danville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Roanoke and Wytheville.
Goodwill encourages autonomy and stability for its employees, allowing for personal and professional growth across all levels of the organization. Goodwill is a competitive employer, with starting pay higher than minimum wage and many opportunities for promotion and advancement. Employees who commit to Goodwill receive more than a paycheck, as the organization offers mentoring, job shadowing and specialized training programs to grow its employees into new roles.
Sustainable shopping
In 2023, Goodwill saved more than 11 million pounds of materials from local landfills. The premise of Goodwill’s non-profit model is to accept new and gently used items from local residents, using the proceeds from the sale of these items to employ local workers and fund job training and career enhancement services for the community.
Reuse is the foundation of Goodwill’s purpose – finding both life and homes for items a household no longer needs. Items not sold at stores go to the Outlet Store for deeper discounts. When clothing and other fabric goods aren’t sold at the Outlet Store, they are recycled into another form, continuing Goodwill’s sustainability efforts.
High-quality items at affordable prices
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys provides high-quality items at affordable prices. Shoppers can find an array of deals and steals on clothing, shoes, housewares and more at their local Goodwill. Merchandise changes daily as new donations are received, processed and placed on the sales floor. Goodwill uses a colored barcode tag system to ensure items move quickly – with a tag color each week boasting a 50% sale, followed by a Sunday Dollar Day. This ensures the steady rotation of merchandise while providing customers with steeper discounts.
Community building
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys builds communities for its employees and the people it serves. Goodwill also creates community with its clients, focusing on relationship-building as a key to success in all aspects of its client-facing work. Goodwill Melrose Plaza will be a resource center and cultural hub in Northwest Roanoke that aims to address poverty while building community. These efforts are all made possible thanks to generous donations and supportive shoppers.
