Goodwill’s Report to the Community Annual Breakfast
May 26, 2011, WJAC-TVTo many people, the word “Goodwill” brings to mind retail stores where people can donate or buy lightly used items. But, at an event in Cambria County on Thursday, people were reminded that Goodwill Industries is much more than that.
Goodwill’s mission is to help individuals with employment barriers become employed, self-sufficient and integrated in the community. According to the organization’s annual report, it helped nearly 27,000 people last year from job placement to youth mentoring to disability services and psychiatric support.
During the Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies’s annual Report to the Community Breakfast in Richland Township, three people were recognized with the 2010 Achievement Award.
“When you donate something to our stores, that turns into (being) able to provide someone with services, career development, helping people get jobs, helping people get onto school, move forward, staying out of the hospital when there’s a mental illness,” said Phyllis Bandstra, president and chief executive officer of Goodwill. “Just on and on.”
Goodwill officials said thanks in part to people’s support at Goodwill retail stores, the organization was able to generate nearly $13 million in revenue last year to spend on serving people in six counties throughout the Alleghenies.