Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC

Did you know your Goodwill shopping and donating helped 3,500 people in northwest North Carolina last month? When you shop and donate to your local Goodwill, 87 cents of every dollar spent in stores directly funds our mission to help people achieve career success and financial stability. Some received skills training courses, and others worked on completing their high school degree, but they all received help thanks to you! We can't wait to see all we accomplish together in the month ahead. ??

Thank you for supporting our reopening! ?? It's been nearly two weeks since our Tunnel Road store in Asheville reopened after four months of being closed due to Hurricane Helene. Our hearts were warmed to see over forty people lined up outside in 22 degree weather ready to see what thrifted treasures awaited inside on opening day. It's hard to believe that just a few weeks ago, our store was filled with a two-inch layer of mud, but now it's filled with our lovely community of thrifters. We're so grateful to our community of shoppers and donors for your unwavering support. Whether you shop or donate at our Tunnel Road store together, we're creating a brighter future for our community.? ?

Nickolas, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, came to Goodwill Veteran Services needing assistance with permanent housing and employment. He had been living in a shelter, but his time there was ending. With the help of Goodwill's Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), Nickolas got a two-week extension to find permanent housing. Nickolas worked diligently with Kim Noel and her team to develop a housing stability plan and stick to his goals. Goodwill connected him with several other resources, including HUD-VASH (Section 8 housing for veterans) and a Veterans Benefits Administration representative. The Veterans Benefits Administration visits Goodwill's Forsyth County Career Center monthly. They assessed Nickolas as 100 percent disabled, granting him full benefits, which allowed him to contribute to his rent. Since then, Nickolas has been able to get stable housing and obtain his driver's license. Nickolas continues to work with Goodwill Veterans Services to maintain his housing and accomplish other goals. Unfortunately, it is very common for veterans to be unaware of or unable to access the benefits that they have earned. Programs like Goodwill Veterans Services, SSVF, NCWorks, Veterans Bridge Home, and many other partner organizations can connect veterans to the Veterans Benefits Administration and other much-needed resources. *Nickolas chose not to share his photo at this time.

Arriving in America as a Haitian immigrant in the late 1970s, Marie faced countless obstacles. As an adult, she prioritized her eight children and worked tirelessly to support their futures. It wasn’t until she saw their successes – graduations, milestones, and accomplishments – that she realized her own potential had been waiting. Marie began to dream of something more for herself. In June 2023, with her youngest child graduating high school, Marie made a bold choice to invest in her own future. She enrolled in the Providence Culinary Training (PCT) Program in Winston-Salem, seeing an opportunity to reclaim the dreams she’d put on hold. Marie embraced her culinary education wholeheartedly. Her classmates, inspired by her drive and positivity, voted her "Most Outstanding" student. And last February, Marie graduated alongside her peers, marking a pivotal milestone in her journey. Not content to stop there, Marie continued with PCT's Barista 08 class, which she completed last March. Soon Marie’s dedication earned her an internship at Sir Winston Wine Loft & Restaurant in downtown Winston-Salem. That opportunity quickly led to a job offer, and Marie has been thriving as a team member ever since. Marie will tell you that she didn’t do it alone. She’s quick to credit the instructors and staff at Providence for their unwavering support, helping her build confidence and stay focused. Marie has redefined her own narrative, proving that it is never too late to rediscover your purpose.

It's time to step into your future. ???? Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. for a multi-employer hiring event taking place at the the Goodwil Career Center at 719 West Center Street, Lexington. Multiple employers are hiring for positions in manufacturing, warehousing, clerical, and other fields. Come dressed professionally and bring an updated resume. For more information, please call 336-236-8021.

Winter weather is back! ?? The safety of our team members, shoppers, and donors is a top priority, which is why many stores and career centers will be operating on a modified schedule. To check on closings, please visit www.goodwillnwnc.org.

Our Tunnel Road store is back! ???? Our retail store at 86 S. Tunnel Road in Asheville will be open again starting Thursday, Feb. 20. The store’s operating hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays 1-6 p.m. The store can be reached from the north via Tunnel Road/NC-70. Shoppers and donors are advised to check local road conditions and closures before traveling. We're so excited to welcome our community back to this location, which has been closed since last September due to flooding from Hurricane Helene. Our team members have been working hard to get this store up and running again and are ready to welcome people back. We hope to see you there starting Thursday, Feb. 20!

When you meet Simon Klein at our Weaverville store, you’ll immediately notice the many Disney and video game pins attached to his vest. “The customers love my flair, and I’m always adding more pins,” he said. ? Simon is a cashier at our Weaverville location, where he helps shoppers with their purchases. When he was five years old, he was diagnosed with autism, and the doctors shared he may never graduate or hold a job. “People really doubted me,” Simon said. “But now I’m doing everything they said I wouldn’t do.” ? Simon and his mother moved to North Carolina from Eureka, Calif., by way of central Oregon, a few years ago. He lives with his mom and his two dogs, named Luke and Leia (yes, named after the Star Wars characters), who mean everything to him. ? Simon came to Goodwill from Walmart, where he says other co-workers didn’t really “get” him. “Here they understand me and my condition,” he said. For 2024, Simon led all team members in asking shoppers to round up their sales total as a donation to Goodwill. “I just love talking with people. I go with the flow, and I just want everyone to be happy, all the time,” he said. “With the times we’re in now, people need all the good they can get.” ? Currently, Simon is working skills to eventually live by himself. He says in five years he wants to be a leader in his community. “I want to expand my horizons,” he added.

Don't forget to celebrate the small wins! ?? Join us on the second and fourth Thursday of every month, from 3 to 4 p.m., at the Goodwill Career Center in Elkin for our Progression, Not Perfection workshop series. This ongoing workshop is designed to address barriers that individuals in recovery or justice-involved may face in the workforce, in a structured learning environment that promotes and encourages open dialogue. The class will focus on: - Developing essential life and workplace skills to enhance employability - Fostering personal growth and learning skills to achieve professional success - Accessing resources to support a smooth transition into employment after treatment or involvement with the justice system Our first class will be held on Thursday, February 13, from 3-4 p.m. Please call 336-526-2144 to reserve a seat.

When Devon came to Goodwill’s Rowan Career Center last August, he’d recently graduated from UNC Greensboro and needed assistance starting his career search. Through the Jump Start workshop, Devon learned about the wide range of free services available at the center, including resume writing and job searching. The center’s manager, Janice, invited Devon to the September meeting of the Goodwill Business Advisory Council – Rowan County, so he could network with the businesses and agencies that would be present. As a result, Devon connected with an NCWorks manager who provided some additional mentoring. At times, Devon became a little discouraged. However, he did not give up hope. He persevered with the advice he’d gotten at the Career Center, included updating his LinkedIn profile, responding to job leads, attending job fairs, and having an open mind. In January, Devon stopped by the Career Center to share that he’d accepted a position with Capital One as an associate software engineer and would be relocating to Richmond, Va., to start his new career. Devon is extremely grateful for the help he received from the Rowan Career Center staff. We’re proud of Devon and wish him well in this new adventure!