Goodwill Industries Of Middle Tennessee Inc

CHANGING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.

FOUNDED IN 1957 AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE'S MISSION IS CHANGING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EMPLOYMENT. AT GOODWILL, WE BELIEVE IN GIVING A HAND UP, NOT A HAND OUT - A SAYING COINED BY GOODWILL'S FOUNDER, THE REVEREND EDGAR J. HELMS. HELMS WORKED AS A MISSIONARY IN THE SLUMS OF SOUTH BOSTON IN THE EARLY 1900S. HE HIRED THE POOR AND NEEDY TO MEND AND REPAIR USED GOODS HE COLLECTED FROM WEALTHY BOSTONIANS. THE REFURBISHED ITEMS WERE SOLD, AND THE PROCEEDS WERE PAID AS WAGES TO THE PEOPLE WHO DID THE WORK. THIS BECAME THE BASIS FOR THE MISSION OF GOODWILLS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND ABROAD. THE PROCESS HAS CHANGED, BUT SIXTY YEARS LATER, THAT BASIC PREMISE STILL HOLDS TRUE, ONLY ON A MUCH GRANDER SCALE. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE IS BASED IN NASHVILLE, TENN. THE ORGANIZATION EMPLOYS ABOUT 1,200 PEOPLE AND SERVES 48 COUNTIES ACROSS MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE. WE OPERATE 28 RETAIL STORES AND TWO OUTLET STORES, ONE ONLINE STORE, MORE THAN 48 DONATION SITES AND A WORKSKILLS TRAINING CENTER AND 9 CAREER SOLUTION CENTERS. EIGHTY-THREE PERCENT OF OUR EMPLOYEES COME TO GOODWILL IN CONNECTION WITH ITS MISSION, AND WE REMAIN ONE OF MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TROUBLE FINDING AND KEEPING JOBS.

ALTHOUGH AFFILIATED WITH GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL IN ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, WE OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY THROUGH OUR OWN LOCAL CEO AND GOVERNING BOARD OF DIRECTORS. GOODWILL COLLECTS GENTLY USED ITEMS THAT OUR GENEROUS DONORS NO LONGER NEED, WANT OR USE. THOSE ITEMS ARE SOLD EITHER IN OUR RETAIL STORES, OUTLETS, OR ONLINE AT ONLINEGOODWILL.COM. REVENUE FROM THE SALE OF DONATED GOODS IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT JOB TRAINING, HISET TRAINING USING COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND TESTING, AND NUMEROUS WORK SKILL-TRAINING PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY GOODWILL CAREER SOLUTIONS, WHICH ASSISTS THOUSANDS OF TENNESSEANS EACH YEAR.

GOODWILL CAREER SOLUTIONS PROVIDES ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN FINDING AND KEEPING JOBS. WE PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL RESUME CREATION AND JOB SEARCH PLANNING SERVICES AS WELL AS CLASSES ADDRESSING HYGIENE, PERSONAL APPEARANCE AND SELF-MARKETING SKILLS. GOODWILL PROVIDES APPROPRIATE INTERVIEW CLOTHING AND WORK CLOTHING IF NEEDED. CAREER SOLUTIONS PROVIDES WORK SKILLS TRAINING IN MULTIPLE SECTORS INCLUDING RETAIL, WAREHOUSE/LOGISTICS, CUSTODIAL, CONSTRUCTION, CALL CENTER, ADMINISTRATIVE AND CLERICAL. PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE INCLUDES CREATING INDIVIDUAL JOB SEARCH WORK PLANS, MOCK INTERVIEWING, GROUP JOB SEARCH ACTIVITIES, JOB DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND HOSTING JOB FAIRS TO CONNECT CLIENTS WITH EMPLOYERS. CAREER SOLUTIONS ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATION NAVIGATION SERVICES FOR THOSE LOOKING TO ACHIEVE A POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.

IN 2021, 25.4 MILLION POUNDS OF SALVAGE AND RECYCLABLE MATERIAL WERE DIVERTED FROM LANDFILLS AND 3.9 MILLION POUNDS OF CARDBOARD AND PAPER PULP WERE RECYCLED, SAVING OVER 41,901 TREES