How can you make an impact in your community?

Giving back, volunteering, living sustainably. We all want to make a difference but not all of us have the time or resources. Even in calmer times, an average day can be hectic and unpredictable but now even more so. When you can’t personally do the things you normally do, how can you still contribute to others?

At Goodwill, we try to make that giving process as easy as possible. You can shop, donate and if you have the time, volunteer. Any gesture, big or small is greatly appreciated, especially in these unsettled times.

When you do support us, you can rest assured that your donations and shopping dollars are going back to help local individuals in need. Over 90 cents of every dollar we spend at Goodwill of Southern Arizona is invested back into the local economy through our mission programs or local employment opportunities. Every year, we support thousands of adults and youth in our twelve local social services programs. We help people with everything from tutoring, job search support, mentoring, re-entry services, supported employment and much more. Last year, Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona invested over $2 million dollars into local workforce programs and employment every single month!

Over the years, we have grown into one of the largest social service providers in the region. Many people do not realize that. They see the stores, trucks and donation centers but do not realize the life changing work going on behind the scenes. Our workforce development staff is highly active in the community, aiming to positively impact people’s lives every day. We support not only the twelve local programs Goodwill offers but also other local nonprofits and meaningful causes. Our staff sits on the planning committees for the D.R.E.A.M. and Second Chance Job Fairs. We support local events like the Fort Lowell Shootout, and Pima’s Fashion Arte show. Collaborating with local organizations that are making a difference and investing in a better future for Southern Arizona. We also support literacy programs and school libraries with books and media donations.

Just in the past few months we have created several new initiatives to help support worthy causes in our community. The first being a PPE and Cleaning Supplies donation drive that we started in partnership with the Pima County Health Department. The goal of the drive was to help collect much need supplies and materials for frontline healthcare workers in our community. The county then provides those resources to local facilities in need. We have also started collecting donations for the Pima Animal Care Center to help support their expanded foster program during COVID19. For donation drive details, you can learn more about what and where to give at GoodwillSouthernAZ.org/Donate. Thank you to everyone that has given or helped us spread the word. Together we can make an even bigger impact!

Our Free Job Connection centers are currently closed but will soon be opening back up with additional safety precautions and social distancing measures. In fact, during the months of May and June, our store locations have slowly started reopening. As our stores do reopen, we are placing an emphasis on safety. We feel a few extra precautions are well worth it if they help protect our staff and vulnerable populations in Southern Arizona. Please help us keep our community safe, visit GoodwillSouthernAZ.org/shop for details and updated policies. Our Metro Rec Youth Center on 4^th Ave is also currently closed to the public with staff staying connected with youth through virtual services. We are however providing in-person GED services by appointment only at our brand new Metro Youth Re-Engagement Center at 1920 E. Silverlake Rd. *Masks and social distancing required.

For those that want to contribute to a more sustainable society, that too is Goodwill’s vision. Last year, we collected over 30 million pounds of donated materials. Converting people’s donations into a multi-million dollar social enterprise supporting around 500 fulltime jobs and serving thousands of individuals every year. Your dollars and donations stay local and help conserve important resources. One example, every pair of jeans you buy at Goodwill, saves over 1,800 gallons of precious water. On top of that, those jeans do not have to be shipped halfway around the globe, helping reduce your carbon footprint. Collectively, local Goodwill’s across the globe are the largest non-governmental recycling network in the world!

So next time you see a Goodwill store or donation center, remember what they support. Their mission is to provide jobs and training for people to gain skills and achieve independence. As things begin to return to normal, employment services and workforce development programs are going to be vital to a healthy recovery in Southern Arizona. With your continued generosity we can help empower our community and get families get back on their feet.