President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of NW Ohio, Inc. (and Owens alum), Amy Wachob sits down with Owens Community College President Dr. Dione D. Somerville talk about her time at Owens, growing in leadership skills and how Goodwill Industries helps the northwest Ohio community!
Amy began working at Goodwill in 1991 at the Reynolds Rd. Goodwill retail store location. She talks about her journey from the beginning of her PT Head Cashier position, how Goodwill Industries mission fueled her desire to get more education and to move up in the organization and her desire to help individuals break barriers to employment, throughout NW Ohio.
Goodwill Mission Services would like to congratulate Lisa Broseke and Yusuf Gardner for passing their respective Certified Employment Support Professional Credential (CESP) Test. The CESP credential is designed for job coaches, job developers, transition employment specialists, job placement personnel, and employment specialists/consultants who serve a wide variety of target audiences including individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental health diagnoses, sensory impairments, physical disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and autism spectrum disorders. CMO, David Takats said, “I feel the certification adds a level of professionalism for our staff. It shows a higher level of understanding and education for Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), consumers and employers. It lets them know Goodwill’s employment staff has a broad knowledge needed to be successful in this field.” We are extremely proud of both of their efforts. Congratulations Lisa and Yusuf!
Individuals who earn the CESP credential have demonstrated knowledge of the facilitation and advocacy skills necessary to help establish and expand equitable employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. CESPs also raise awareness of benefits within the business community, and promote social change that fosters an independent, productive lifestyle for individuals with disabilities.
Goodwill was pleased to participate in National Night Out, hosted by the Toledo Police Department. National Night Out is an event to cities across the nation participate in to foster the relationship between safety forces and the community. Goodwill joined Toledo Police, Firefighters, and other community partners in providing a fun evening while bringing back a true sense of community. Amazing evening for our community and Goodwill is excited to return next year!
Amy Wachob, CEO; Kellie Schlachter, CFO and David Takats, CMOFun in the community
Heading off to college is a major milestone. For those who have the opportunity to live on campus, the school year can mean leaving family and friends in your hometown and heading off into the world of the unknown. Especially for freshman, the first few weeks of the school year can be an exciting and nerve-wracking time. You might feel homesick as you try to figure out who in your class you might be able to form a friendship with. You might feel out of sorts without friendly reminders from home. Preparing for a new school year and setting yourself up for success are the best things you can do to start the semester on the right foot.
This goes for all types of back-to-school shopping, especially putting thought into the place where you’ll sleep, study, and hang out with friends. Fortunately, you won’t need to lug all your furniture and décor from across the country to your new dorm, with the help of the home goods section in a local Goodwill that can make your dorm room feel like home from day one.
Shopping at Goodwill for dorm room décor is a cost-effective way to get your back-to-school shopping done. It’s also an amazing way to pick up unique and eclectic finds that can really make a dorm room feel like home. Whether you buy something new with the tags still on it, or something that’s been donated and has been pre-loved, shopping at Goodwill is an amazing way to express your taste and interests as you display the items as décor in your new room. In fact, not only can it create a more artistic feel to your décor, but it also supports those in the local community as well, with job training and courses that can help them excel in their lives and careers.
Keep reading for inspiration from real Goodwill shoppers around the country, who used thrifted home goods treasures to create the atmosphere of their dreams.
Starting the school year with confidence can make the semester an experience full of new opportunities. Incorporating bright pops of color into your dorm décor can be a reminder to shine bright throughout the year. You can find everything from curtains to throw pillows to jewelry boxes at Goodwill. Be sure to check them out on your next trip to see what speaks to you!
Space is likely going to be limited if you’re living in a dorm, which makes the case for décor that serves a purpose while making the place your own. I love the idea of this reverse bookstack topped with a plant and set next to a candle as a fun way to spice up desk or dresser space. Plus, you can swap new books or textbooks as you read them.
Every year during the first full week of May, Goodwill Industries International along with our community-based Goodwill® organizations across the U.S. and Canada celebrate Goodwill Week to highlight the Goodwill mission — transforming lives through the #powerofwork. This year, #GoodwillWeek runs May 7-13.
While the U.S. economy is steadily improving and the unemployment rate continues to remain low, many communities continue to struggle with poverty, homelessness and lack of access to good-paying jobs. Goodwill has a long history of helping people acquire the skills and training they need to find meaningful employment so they can support their families and contribute to their communities.
Local Goodwill organizations first celebrated Goodwill Industries Week in May 1951 as a way to educate people about the Goodwill mission, defined at that time as, “helping people with disabilities help themselves.”
Today, Goodwill serves anyone facing challenges to finding employment, including people with disabilities and disadvantages, older workers, youth, veterans and military families, and people reintegrating back into society from the justice system. Goodwill helps anyone, regardless of educational level or economic background, reach their full potential through learning and the power of work.
Goodwill sells donated items in more than 3,300 stores in the United States and Canada and online at shopgoodwill.com®. The revenue creates job placement and training programs to help people earn paychecks and build their careers.
Eighty-seven cents of every dollar a consumer spends at Goodwill goes back into local communities to help people build careers of significance and lives of meaning. Every 25 seconds of every business day, a person served by Goodwill earns a good job.
Goodwill Week comes at a critical time to shine a light on individuals in need, as well as on our 155 Goodwill organizations, community partners and employers across the country who are working together to provide training and support services to those who need them.
A bushel of potatoes, pictured below, represents the total capital stock of Goodwill Industries in 1933. the first major transaction was to trade on half of a bushel of potatoes for one half of a bushel of onions. For the first 6 months of 1933, Goodwill posted a cash income of $625 and $2,000 in barter.
Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio has seen a variety of locations of the past 90 years. Some of these locations include the corner of Adams & 12th, the Morral Memorial Building at 627 North Huron St., which was directly across from the location at the corner of Lynn & Summit, which is near the now Fifth Third building.
Currently, Goodwill Industries has 13 Brick and Mortar retail locations, 4 store front Donation Stations, 2 Job Connection Centers, 1 E-Commerce retail location (shopgoodwill.com), the Transportation and Commercial Services share the building on Nebraska Ave. And our new headquarters at 1120 Madison Ave., which we moved into in January, 2018.
You can go to our Facebook page @GoodwillNow for more information on the past 90 years of Goodwill in Northwest Ohio.
That phrase was coined by Edgar J. Helms, Goodwill’s Founder. In these pictures from Toledo Goodwill people donated items that needed repair, specifically furniture items. Individuals work restoring collected goods while learning trades and sharpening skills at the same time. Income from the resale of the goods paid their wages and eventually an industrial school developed. That is the foundation of Goodwill. Today, your NW Ohio Goodwill provides job training to enhance the lives of individuals and their families through the Power of Work.
In the beginning of Goodwill’s Incorporation, in 1933, we were incorporated as “Organized Goodwill, Inc.”, also known as Toledo Goodwill. In 1977, our Amended Articles of Incorporation it was changed to “Goodwill Industries of Toledo, Inc.” In 1995 we were amended as “Goodwill Industries of NW Ohio, Inc.”, as we proudly serve all of NW Ohio. #goodwillnow#goodfinds#nwohio#Goodwill#whygoodwill#90years#90daysofgoodwill#community
During the 2022 Board Planning Session, held in September, work began on updating Goodwill of NW Ohio’s Mission Statement. This update was much needed and the new statement was written very intentionally to describe our purpose throughout Northwest Ohio.
Goodwill builds dignity and enhances quality of life for individuals and families throughout Northwest Ohio through the Power of Work by eliminating barriers and providing opportunities.
