Organization poised to open 19th retail location and 1st virtual career center this summer
The summer of 2023 is a time of expansion and advancement for Goodwill of the Heartland and the many people employed and served by the nonprofit.
Goodwill is proud to announce a significant expansion of its career center services through the launch of a virtual career center. While the organization’s brick-and-mortar Helms Career Centers provide services to area employers as well as job seekers, the virtual offering focuses on people searching for new employment opportunities, interested in entrepreneurial ventures or hoping to advance in an existing career or industry. Resume creation, certification courses and more will be available to those who register, effectively breaking down barriers of geography and transportation.
In addition, Goodwill is excited to announce selection of a new store location in Mount Pleasant. Renovations are currently underway at 700 N. Grand Ave. and two hiring events are slated to take place next month. Goodwill will be hiring store management as well as retail and production team members. In addition to providing a traditional Goodwill shopping experience, the new location will include donation drive-up service and a community room.
“Goodwill of the Heartland is constantly exploring the best ways to implement and enhance our mission,” said CEO and President Pat Airy. “We bring good jobs to the community, provide an excellent shopping experience, offer online skill building and career services and collaborate with local agencies to provide shopping vouchers for those in need.”
In conjunction with the retail and mission services expansions, Goodwill of the Heartland is partnering with Goodwill Industries International and Goodwill organizations around the country on a “New Lives” ad campaign. The campaign draws a solid line between donations to the organizations and their ability to provide career training, workforce solutions and other services.
“Consumers know about Goodwill retail stores though many are not aware that those stores exist to fund our mission of helping people reach their full potential through education, training and the power of work,” Airy said.
The campaign features the many faces and stories of Goodwill job seekers, what they have overcome, and how donations from the public have played a vital role in their self-empowerment. These donations allow Goodwill to offer free services to those who may not qualify for or able to afford conventional job support services. In 2022, Goodwill of the Heartland provided 514 job placement services.
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