Filed under: Career Services, Success Stories | Tags: Business, Goodwill Industries International Week, Goodwill Week, incarceration, Job Training, Kim Gray, Project Re-entry, recidivism, Success Story, Triad Goodwill, United States
Every day, Triad Goodwill strives to improve the lives of those facing employment barriers. The support from people like you in our stores, in our resource centers, at our area colleges and in our communities is what allows Goodwill to provide our unmatched opportunities.
As Goodwill Industries International Week rounds out today, meet Rodney Hamilton. While at first unsure if he wanted to tell his story, he then decided it was a story worth telling…
“I first learned about the program that offers local support and employment skills to serving and former offenders, Project Re-entry, while incarcerated. After I got out, I ran into Triad Goodwill Project Re-entry Coordinator Kim Gray, and Winston-Salem area Project Re-entry Coordinator Michael Thomas. They shared with me some successes from the program and the possibilities I could achieve.
After working with Project Re-entry for about two months, I obtained a job at EAS Construction Company.
Now, I try to stay around positive people. It definitely helps to have a support system. I learned to not give up, and Kim especially, helped me to not lose focus.
I would recommend Project Re-entry to anyone.
Call (336) 275-9801 for additional information on the Project Re-entry program.
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Filed under: Career Services, General, Success Stories | Tags: Assistance, Business, Career Center, Employment, free, Goodwill Industries, Greensboro, Greensboro North Carolina, Job Traning, Marla Sims, People, Preston Martin, success, Triad Goodwill, United States, Work
Triad Goodwill helped more than 1,725 people find jobs last year. This Goodwill Industries Week, we want to say thank you for your support. Your generosity helps us provide job training and community services to help people become independent.
Now, meet Marla Sims. After losing her job, she discovered our North Elm Career Center and the rest is history…
“If you are looking for career advancement, employment or just need to update your skills, I would recommend everyone visit the North Elm Career Center in Greensboro or the closest Triad Goodwill Career Center in your area.
When my full time job was phased out, I was referred to Goodwill, so I could learn about the Career Center’s free employment and job search programs and services. The center provides computers, faxing/phone calls to potential employers, job training, educational development and much much more. Goodwill on-site job counselors are available to assist with resume development, cover letters, applications, and one-on-one career counseling. The employees are very helpful and knowledgeable.
North Elm Career Center in Greensboro has been very instrumental in me obtaining Full-Time Employment. Thanks Goodwill for all you do!!!
Plus meet Preston Martin, a Jobs on the Outside participant who after being incarcerated, found success with Triad Goodwill http://www.youtube.com/user/TriadGoodwill.
Filed under: General, Partnerships, The Human Race, Volunteer | Tags: excercise, Goodwill Industries, Greensboro, Greensboro North Carolina, Human, Human Race, North Carolina, retail, running, Triad Goodwill, United States, UPS, Volunteer, Volunteer Center of Greensboro, walking
We love our Triad Goodwill volunteers! From assisting with our largest event and fundraiser, Rock the Runway fashion 
show, to retail store Grand Openings, our volunteers support us in a variety of capacities that help us continue our mission to help put people to work! Now, we need you to channel your inner athlete and put on your running – or walking shoes for Goodwill! We’ve put together a Triad Goodwill Team to participate in the 2012 5K Human Race and any interested supporters are encouraged to participate.
On Saturday, March 31 at 9 a.m., come out to the Greensboro Coliseum ready to sweat! Your dogs are even welcome! Then party hard after the race with music and food to fill you back up! See all the ways you can get involved below.
P.S. – A big shout-out to UPS who has committed to entering 20 people to participate on behalf of Triad Goodwill! Woot woot!
Join Our Team!
You can walk or run the 5K, we just want your support on the Triad Goodwill Team to reach our goal of 25 walkers/ runners! Click the link below and find ‘Join our Nonprofit Team,’ then determine your personal fundraising goal. Share your fundraising goal and the event with potential sponsors like friends, family, co-workers with the ‘Spread the Word’ option in the left-hand column. Race day registration begins at 9 a.m.; race parking is free. Note: if walking or running the race for fun, registration is free; if running competitively, a $25 pre-registration fee is required, or $30 on the race day – please call The Volunteer Center of Greensboro at 336-373-1633 for the fee-based option.
http://thehumanrace.kintera.org/TriadGoodwill
**And if you are a business or corporation looking to create a walking/ running team to support Triad Goodwill, create one at the link below! (Please contact Ashley Watkins at Triad Goodwill at 336-544-5254 with any questions about this process)
http://www.volunteergso.org/programs/2012-human-race/walking-teams-2012/
Donate!
Can’t walk or run on the day of the event? Help Triad Goodwill reach our team goal of $500 by donating online, (link also listed below). You can also donate by cash or check. Please make checks payable to The Human Race. And remember – the money raised goes towards Triad Goodwill’s mission of offering free job training!
Bring or send in donations to:
Ashley Watkins
The Human Race
Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc.
1235 S. Eugene Street
Greensboro, NC, 27406
(reminder: Make checks payable to The Human Race)
Quick Info!
See the race day schedule and route at the link below, and be sure to stick around for free food, live music and prizes at the after party!
http://www.volunteergso.org/programs/2012-human-race/
Thank you for your support of Triad Goodwill!
Filed under: Fashion, General, Retail and Donations | Tags: Antiques and Collectibles, Business and Economy, Clothing, Facebook, Granny, Shopping, thriff store, thrifting, Triad Goodwill, United States, Vintage clothing
Vintage and handmade emporium, Design Archives, has been a vintage clothing destination to many Triad shoppers for years. Today, owner Kit Rodenbough, reveals her secrets to finding that perfectly aged gem, and how many times, it begins at Triad Goodwill.
“I began my career in the seventies as a clothing designer, and on the side I have always collected vintage clothing and textiles. Ten years ago, the collecting became my full-time career, and now I sell vintage clothing to cool people for a living.
“One of my favorite places to do my hunting and picking is in Goodwill stores. These stores hold a host to treasures that can be found in all departments…but the clothing departments are my specialties!”
You might ask me where these treasures come from? Hint: The best treasures I find are those that have been deposited at Goodwill by family who have discovered that Granny and Grandpa have saved everything they ever wore!
Kit Rodenbough and Mike from the History Channel show American Pickers
The Picking Process
I always grab a shopping cart so that I don’t waste anytime later trying to find one when my arms are piled high with fabulous finds! I then assess the store’s layout to pick a key location inside each store to begin. I usually start in the Men’s Department. After a quick scan of the racks I start a slightly slower pace of skimming each rack for their vintage items.
Since I was in the clothing industry for many years, I can detect the older colors and fabrics pretty quickly and if I think the item is vintage I inspect it more closely. Vintage has been a trend in clothing design recently, and some retailers can make some pretty good imitations of true vintage.
After some inspection, I scan the labels to validate what’s authentic from what’s imitation. Often the simple phrase on a tag “made in the USA” is validation enough.
I recommend the seasoned thrifter to tackle the denim or T-shirts racks. These racks are usually longer and hold a lot of clothing. And with so many pickers out there who skim those racks daily, the competition is fierce, so put your picking shoes on – I know you’re up for the challenge! With T-shirts, I look at the neckline and see the way the neck binding is constructed as well as the type of label and brand to determine the age. For jeans, I scan the legs for bell bottoms, and the shade of the denim.
Current fashion trends will dictate how much time I spend in sections like the Children’s Departments. Young hip women have been wearing their tops and coats a lot tighter the last few years and the vintage items often give them the fit they desire. Therefore, I always stop in this department in search of cool colors and then I inspect the garment to see if it could fit an adult.
Take your time in this department. Women have always shopped more and owned more than men, therefore there is more to dispose of…and more to find! Before leaving the department, always look up and around in case there is something awesome like the beautiful vintage fox fur coat that I found several years ago!
And remember to relax and enjoy your picking experience. You will have good days and great days, good finds and great finds, and I can promise that if you do it right you will never be disappointed. I usually drive away with a car full to the brim, and cash to spare!
Find Kit Rodenbough on Facebook.
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Filed under: Career Services, General, Success Stories | Tags: Business, Canada, Career Services, classes, Employment, free, Goodwill Industries, Reidsville, Rockville Maryland, Triad Goodwill, Unemployment, United States, Work
Each week, Triad Goodwill will highlight someone who has achieved employment success, thanks to Goodwill.
Read Karen Stubblefield’s Success Story below…
After 25 years in Food Service Management, my current position of 5 years that I had hoped I would retire from was phased out. There I was just like over 37,000 other people in Rockingham County jobless. I was jobless but not hopeless. My search began. Weekly you could find me utilizing all the resources available to me in the Reidsville Community Resource Center. I would invest three days a week at the center and two days a week at the public library job searching, researching and thinking. What was I thinking? I was thinking I won’t be out of work long. I have a very strong work ethic and coupled with my years of experience there must be hundreds of jobs available to me.
Hopeful and not without help, Dot Dunlap, the receptionist at the Reidsville Community Resource Center asked me to attend some classes. I did. I enrolled in the Advanced Computer Class, the Employability Skills Class, and the Money Smart Class. I successfully completed them all. While using the Network Room I submitted my resume that was written for me while I attended the Employability Skills Class. I was able to obtain a part-time job, continued to use the services at Goodwill.
One day while I was in the network room Ms. Dot told me she was getting promoted and would be working at the Eden Community Resource Center. She asked “why don’t you apply for the receptionist position here in Reidsville.” I replied, “it’s really not my line of work, but maybe my skills will be transferable.” Dot politely encouraged “you will never know until you try.” I applied, was called for an interview, and got the job!
Now I’m the receptionist at the Reidsville Community Resource Center, and I’m able to assist people who are where I was. I know how it feels to be out of work and seeking employment. Just as all the employees at the center helped me successfully integrate into the labor market, I now can assist others. I put people to work!
For additional information about Triad Goodwill’s Resource Centers and free career exploration, career planning, job search strategies, interviewing techniques, money management and computer skills, visit www.TriadGoodwill.org.
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Filed under: Career Services, General, Success Stories | Tags: Business, Canada, Career, Employment, Goodwill Industries, Job, Reidsville Community Resource Center, Retailing, Rockingham Community College, success, Triad Goodwill, Unemployment, United States, Work
Each week, Triad Goodwill will highlight someone who has achieved employment success, thanks to Goodwill.
Read Darrell Womble’s Success Story below…
One day while leaving the Goodwill retail store in Reidsville, something told me to check out the Goodwill Reidsville Community Resource Center building next door just to see what they had to offer. Upon entering the Center, Ms. Dot Dunlap greeted me and explained the job training services to me. I listened, then told her I was currently employed and left. Who knew in two months, I would be unemployed. So while I was trying to decide my next move, I remembered the Center. This time when I came into the Center, I told Ms. Dot I was unemployed. Her reply was “don’t worry, I’ve been there before and it’s going to be OK.”
She told me about the classes that were offered and some classes also offered at Rockingham Community College, a Goodwill partner. One of the classes offered, called Employability Skills class, caught my attention because I could learn to create a new resume as well as gain interviewing tips – so I signed up. Well I took the class, then sent my resume to a couple of employers and waited. While I waited, I continued to search for jobs in the Center’s Network Room where I could access the Internet and print and fax for free.
Then one day while searching www.TriadGoodwill.org, I saw that the Center was looking to hire a Community Resource Coordinator. I applied and was lucky enough to secure the job.
Now in my first three months as Coordinator at the Reidsville Community Resource Center as well as the new Center recently opened in Eden, this job has been as rewarding and fulfilling as I knew it would be. I enjoy meeting people and serving my community by offering valuable resources that I know will help them, because they helped me.
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Filed under: Career Services, General, Success Stories | Tags: Business, Canada, Career, Charlotte, Charlotte North Carolina, Employment, Goodwill Industries, Greensboro, Job, Triad, Triad Goodwill, United States
Each week, Triad Goodwill will highlight someone who has achieved employment success, thanks to Goodwill.
Read Aaron Christopher’s Success Story below…
During a visit to the Goodwill retail store on North Elm street, Aaron discovered the Career Center. Engaged, he wanted to find a job in Charlotte closer to his fiancée. Since he didn’t own a home computer, he utilized the Career Center to search for jobs online. With center coordinator Heather Schneck’s help, he was able to get his résumé reviewed and uploaded to Internet job sites.
Within a week, Aaron was in Charlotte for three job interviews and was offered a job immediately in his field of automotive technology. He’s now starting his life in Charlotte – and Aaron is still getting calls for job interviews!
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Filed under: Career Services, General, Success Stories | Tags: Canada, Career Services, Employment, God, Goodwill Industries, Greensboro Community Resource Center, Job Fair, Triad Goodwill, United States
Each week, Triad Goodwill will highlight someone who has achieved employment success, thanks to Goodwill.
Read Richard Stanley’s Success Story below…
In August of 2010, I lost my job of 14 years as a delivery driver. At 51 years of age, I was out of a job and unable to draw unemployment. I was truly on my own for income. Then in October, my wife was hospitalized for 10 days. We had no insurance and the bills were mounting up. I was really getting concerned God might have deserted us.
Then, at a job fair, I met Greensboro Community Resource Center Coordinator Gale Murphy. She told me about the classes at Goodwill and how they taught people who have been out of the workplace and were job hunting. I went to the Employability Skills class and also the Money Smart class, and did a little volunteer work for Goodwill. I was introduced to a company and was able to apply for a job there. Thanks to God and Goodwill, I was accepted for the new job! Goodwill is a wonderful place and the people actually want you to succeed. If you are out of a job, Goodwill is the place to go for answers about your potential to do well in a new career field.
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Filed under: Career Services, General, Success Stories | Tags: Business, Canada, Disability, Employment, Goodwill Industries, Jim Gibbons, Triad Goodwill, United States
Each week, Triad Goodwill will highlight someone who has achieved employment success, thanks to Goodwill.
Read Nardya Morton’s story below… 
After many years of struggles and disappointments, Nardya was referred to Goodwill
by the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Nardya “wanted her life back, whatever that involved,” but she needed help. She began to assemble a group she affectionately calls her “Dream Team” – including her work adjustment coordinator, instructors and job coach – who helped her regain her footing. “I was placed with people who wanted to see the best in others,” says Nardya.
She learned interviewing skills, resume writing and ultimately landed two jobs in three hours! Nardya continues to learn, and with help from her current employer, is able to work part-time while continuing to take classes at the Greensboro Community Resource Center. Her long-term goal is to complete her bachelor’s degree and have a career in counseling. In the meantime, she’s proud to tell everyone about her latest achievement – she’s Employee of the Month after only three months at her current job!
Filed under: Career Services, General, Success Stories, Veterans Day | Tags: Goodwill Industries, Job, Labour economics, Military, Triad Goodwill, United States, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran, Veterans Day, Wednesday, Work
In 2010, more than 20 million men and women in the United States over the age of 18 were veterans. As service members transition to civilian life, they face a bleak job market in addition to other significant challenges that make it more difficult for them to find work, grow their careers and provide for themselves and their families. Physical and psychological disabilities, substance abuse, homelessness, long waits for benefits and other support services, and lack of immediate access to Veteran Affairs facilities are just a few of those challenges.
Between 2008 and 2010, the number of documented veterans who received services from Goodwill® more than doubled, from 12,524 to 25,766. A new initiative, Goodwill for America’s Heroes and Their Families, seeks to increase the number of veterans and their families who access Goodwill’s vital support services and are able to successfully re-enter the civilian workforce.
On Veterans Day and every day, Goodwill remains committed to giving back to the men and women who have given so much to preserve our freedom and way of life. Your support of Goodwill helps us serve America’s heroes as they build new lives for themselves and their families. And at Triad Goodwill stores, active and retired military personnel and their families can receive a 10 percent discount available every Wednesday all year with a valid military ID.
