Goodwill Industries Announces GoodGuides GoodDeeds Club

June 20, 2014, Press Release

Volunteers and Materials Sought for Johnstown Amtrak Station Cleanup Beginning June 23

JOHNSTOWN, PA, June 20, 2014—Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies announces the start of its GoodGuides® Youth Mentoring Program’s GoodDeeds Club. The first scheduled project is cleaning up the historic Johnstown Amtrak Station. Goodwill Industries, through its GoodGuides Program, is partnering with the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, Discover Downtown Partnership with volunteers from the Johnstown Community Corrections Center, and Laurel Asphalt to preserve one of the major gateways into the community.

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Youth will join their mentors and other community groups to clean up the station and redevelop the garden area outside the parking lot. The project will begin June 23. Major cleanup days are scheduled for July 2 and July 3 from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. The goal is to have the train station ready for Independence Day festivities. Volunteers and materials are needed to support this inaugural GoodDeeds Club project.

“We are always looking for projects that will provide engaging, hands-on experiences for our youth,” said Phyllis Bandstra, Goodwill Industries’ President & CEO. “Participating and investing time into a community landmark, such as the train station, creates pro-social involvement and brings positive skills and experiences into the lives of our young people.”

GoodGuides has been inundated with requests from youth, their parents, and others who are looking for opportunities to engage in service and volunteerism. “We have people who want to volunteer for projects in the community,” said Cindy O’Connor, GoodGuides Program Manager. “In fact, it is one of our youth who came up with the name GoodDeeds. This is a great opportunity for mentors, youth, and anybody to meet a real community need.”

Community members wishing to volunteer, donate materials, or suggest GoodDeeds projects can contact Cindy O’Connor, Program Manager at (814) 536-3536, ext. 304 or coconnor@goodwilljohnstown.org.

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request for individuals with disabilities.

Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley (GICV), Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1962 to empower individuals and families with employment barriers to achieve their fullest potential in the community through work services. Headquartered in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, GICV serves individuals with disabilities and disadvantages, dislocated workers, youth, and other job seekers throughout south central Pennsylvania in the counties of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Huntingdon, Indiana, Somerset and a portion of Westmoreland by providing education and career services as well as job placement and postemployment supports. GICV is a community-based member organization of Goodwill Industries International, a 179-member network in the U.S., Canada, and 13 other countries. Learn more at www.gicv.org.
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