Goodwill Industries of Southern California

I've been a member of the board of Goodwill Southern California for just over a year. I write with the perspective of someone who managed non profit organizations for over 30 years. GSC is probably the best run not for profit organization I've ever been involved with. It enjoys a highly motivated and compassionate staff and a fully engaged and enthusiastically supportive board and advisory structure. It consistantly out performs it's own aggressive goals. Finally, GSC provides effective services at the highest level to it's large client base throughout it's service area. Bill Carney

I started my association with Goodwill Southern California as both a merchandise and financial donor but didn't understand the full scope of their activities until I took a tour of the headquarters. In these times of high unemployment, it's great to have an organization that devotes itself to helping people prepare themselves to get back into the workplace. Between all the training programs available, including computer skills and how to interview for a job, this is an incredibly valuable service Goodwill Southern California provides to the communtiy.

Goodwill Southern California is a wonderful organization that has such positive effects in our community. Goodwill Southern California helped over 59,000 men and women and at-rick youth througtout Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties during 2009 and the number will only increase in 2010. The postive career counseling, education and guidance that Goodwill Southwill California gives their clients is so important.

All Goodwill stores I have donated to are clean and the staff is extremely friendly and supportive. I was reading on their website that they put 92% of their budget back into their program -- that is great!

I always appreciate the attitude & helpfulness of the attendants at the Goodwill Donation Center. they often come out to the car to see if they can help, and they always ask if I want a receipt. What nice people!

The Career Center in San Bernardino (Waterman and Mill) has become the ONLY place I have referred people to. The staff have helped at least seven or eight of my friends to find jobs. Without exception, each one called me back to thank me for sending them there. Caring and competence.

The staff at my local Goodwill donation center are always cheerful and helpful. (I live in Montrose and use the donation site on Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta.) This agency also does great work. Most folks know Goodwill just through their stores, donation centers and trucks, but I found out the purpose of all that "stuff" they collect is to find jobs for people--especially people with disabilities, or welfare recipients, etc. In this economy, goodness knows we can use places like Goodwill that are actually finding jobs for people.

Here's a great story about the good people of Goodwill: Last week I took a load of 7 boxes to my local collection center for donation. Among the items was a rocking horse that all three of my kids had used. That night my wife couldn't sleep, she rolled over and said, "I'm just so sad that we gave away that rocking horse. Do you think that there is any way that we could reclaim it?" Next morning I went to the collection center. It was gone, but the attendant told me that I could check with the regional center to see if they might be able to tell me where the truck took the items. I went to the regional center. The manager told me that mine was an unusual request, but he'd try to locate it for me. He dissappeared into a back room. A few minutes later he reappeared with another staff person they told me that they had located the shipment. Further they had called the store where it had gone and the rocking horse had been located and set aside for me. I drove the 15 miles to that store through torrential rain. When I got there I identified myself and said that I was there about a horse. "Oh yes, I heard about that!" said the man. A few minutes later another man appeared triumphantly carrying a horse--the wrong horse (but one we had also donated.) When he saw my face he said, "Oh maybe you had the other horse." When he returned he had the right rocking horse. I took it home and my wife was so pleased. But the story isn't over: the next morning I got a call from the regional center from one of the staff who had helped me. She asked if I had retrieved the horse. I told her I had and thank-you very much. "Well," she said, "one of our trucks brought in a rocking horse this morning and I wondered if it might be the one you lost." Thanks Goodwill staff for the amazing kindness and service!

I used to work for Goodwill Industries of Southern California three years ago as the Director of Industrial Services and found it to be the most rewarding job during my 20 year career. They truly live and breathe their mission statement, providing jobs (opportunities) for people with disabilities and other vocational disadvantages. The president, Doug Barr is an amazing man and holds the entire staff accountable to live the mission. Goodwill Southern California is the real deal!

Mario Haug gave me a tour of Goodwill. It was amazing! I was impressed with the number of people employed, especially now. I love the recycling programs. Nothing at Goodwill is wasted. The stores are as nice as a department store. The community should be gratefull to have an organization as fine as Goodwill Insdustries.

I had a pretty good experience. Everyone there really loves what they do. It's nice to see that in this day and age. Aces!

Goodwill is my number one choice in thrift shopping. With this economy, it is tough to find quality things that I can afford... I like unique furniture and clothing, and it is nice to always find something one of a kind here. Unlike other thrift stores, Goodwill is always organized and has a helpful staff in each location I've visited.

It’s a great feeling to know that my donations of used clothing and household goods can make such a difference. More people are learning the value of recycling and purchasing “gently used” clothing and goods, saving money for the consumer and sending less waste to our already overcrowded landfills. Goodwill is there to help serve the community and the environment, and has been doing so for many years. My donations help fund the Goodwill’s social programs, such as job training and career building assistance. The electronic recycling program is also a great benefit to the community; it’s an environmentally safe and very convenient place to drop off your unwanted electronics. I recently dropped off old computer equipment for recycling; it was so much easier than waiting for a city wide hazard waste roundup.

Until I took a tour of the LA campus/facility, I had no idea how much work Goodwill actually does in our communities. The tour operator was both friendly and knowledgable, and her tour through the facility broadened my view of Goodwill. Probably like most people, I only thought of Goodwill as a place to donate/buy clothes--a sort of thrift store organization. However, I learned that Goodwill is involved with employment & job training services for those who need phone and internet access, help with interview and resume preparation, need professional attire, or need to build professional bridges into the community. The amount of resources for people seeking help with employment is inspring. Also, the scale of the electronics recycling operation is impressive. From breaking down potentially hazardous materials for safe disposal to refurbishing TVs, computers, cell phones, etc for continued use, Goodwill seems to ensure that our landfills don't overflow with good or bad electronics. So, from cothes and an industrial paper shredding service to job training and large-scale recycling, Goodwill is much more integral to our area than I thought. I only wish more people knew!

My experience with Goodwill industries has always been pleasant and inspiring. The stores are well run and have amazing items. Goodwill programs from what I understand have tremendous impact and help many, many people in our communities.

I joined the AmeriCorps VISTA program to support their mission of strengthening and supplementing efforts to eliminate and alleviate poverty. I am fortunate to work with Goodwill because they also support this mission. Every employee and volunteer I have met here at Goodwill is proud of their contribution to helping people secure quality employment. Goodwill's mission is always on our minds and it shows in the hard work and dedication of employees and volunteers. An example of some dedicated volunteers is the group that puts on the vintage fashions shows. These men and women take care of our vintage clothing collection, plan shows, sew and mend clothing, do show setup, and perform in the show. All proceeds support the job programs. When I walk into our Work Source Center, I am always reminded of the array of free services Goodwill is providing. I see people on the computers updating their resumes and searching for jobs. There are flyers advertising the next workshops. Job coaches are ready to provide the guidance and support job-seekers may need. I hope that Goodwill's dedication to transforming lives through the power of work continues to shine in all areas of the organization. As Goodwill becomes better known to the public for their services and not just as a collection of thrift stores, more people will be able to escape the cycle of poverty and unemployment. Goowill's visibility to the public encourages more community members to volunteer with us and more donors to contribute finacially to the mission.

Goodwill has some very compassionate employees, who care about the overall good will of the world. If people at Good Will take initiative like this person in every action they make, then Good Will will only become a leader in a peace and good will movement.

I have been involved with Goodwill Industries of Southern California for almost 10 years. As a retired corporate executive, it is so wonderful to see a non-profit that has a very important mission and is able to accomplish that mission in a very efficient and effective manner. Because the organization is so well-run, it has been able to dramatically increase the number of people served while doing an excellent job of managing expenses.