Shop and Donate to Help People Across Middle and West Tennessee

(Middle Tenn.) — From May 8-12, Goodwill is celebrating Goodwill Week. For 115 years, Goodwill has worked in communities to help people get back to work and support their families.

Every day, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee connects people who are unemployed or underemployed with career navigation and skills attainment so they can advance their careers and earn long-term stability for themselves and their families. Goodwill helps anyone facing challenges to finding employment — including youth, seniors, veterans, immigrants and those with disabilities — gain skills and credentials, receive support services and find jobs.  

Andrew is one example of a person who benefited from Goodwill’s services. The Shelbyville resident has physical and developmental disabilities and had been unemployed for a year when he came to Goodwill Career Solutions for help. Andrew received training in interview skills and assistance in submitting job applications. With effort, persistence and a little guidance, Andrew landed a job at Roses Department Store and has now been working there more than a year. His finances have improved, he says the job has given him a more positive outlook on life.

Goodwill Week celebrates the nonprofit’s innovative social enterprise model. Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee sells donated items in its 36 stores and at onlinegoodwill.com to create employment placement services, job training, financial wellness and other services to meet the needs of individuals and families in Middle and West Tennessee.

Matthew Bourlakas, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, asks that supporters of Goodwill do five things in observance of the five days of Goodwill Week:

Donate

household items, shoes, clothing, books and other gently used items at one of 80 Goodwill Donation Express Centers.

Shop

at one of Goodwill’s 36 stores or at onlinegoodwill.com and purchase something they need.

Refer

someone in need of employment to Goodwill Career Solutions by having them call (800) 545-9231 or visit their nearest Career Solutions center.

Round Up

to the nearest dollar when making a purchase from Goodwill. These donations help fund Goodwill’s mission of changing lives through education, training and employment, and 97 cents of every dollar Goodwill spends is applied toward its mission.

Share 

with others about Goodwill’s great bargains, its mission and its impact on individuals, the economy, the community and the environment to others.

“We invite people across Middle and West Tennessee to celebrate Goodwill Week and make a difference in one or all of these five ways,” said Matthew Bourlakas, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. “Goodwill is so much more than a bargain, and community support makes it possible for us to deliver our mission of changing lives through education, training, and employment.”

During Goodwill Week, Goodwill Career Solutions will host several events: