From their humble beginnings in the old West Springfield Railroad YMCA basement, Methodist Church roots, and 72 years of caring by community business leaders, Goodwill Industries of the Springfield/Hartford Area, Inc. continues to astound people who on a first time visit to the 285 Dorset Street location, express the sentiment "I had no idea." ~ and without exception, people are dismayed at the size, scope and diversity of Goodwill services on behalf of people with disabilities and special needs.

It's true, Goodwill is best known for their resale business; recycling donations of clothing, household items and furniture for sale in their Retail Stores (7 of them, in fact...serving Chicopee, Northampton, Palmer, Ware, Hartford, CT. and two Springfield locations. The newest being the talk of the town for the tremendous renovations to the former Blake's store at the 'X' and the upscale image the retail store presents along with its Coffee Shoppe, International Newsstand and Community Conference Center. Did you know there are 187 Goodwill's around the country and in 35 foreign countries. Each is autonomous and governed by an elected, non-paid, Board of Directors which is representative of the community at large. There are more than 1400 Goodwill stores nationwide and they rank as the 74th largest retailer in the country!...Who knew!

Some other tidbits that might amaze you. 99.9% of all donated clothing is put to very good use. The good quality garments are offered for sale in the stores...lessor quality clothing is recycled in many ways...from re-grading of wool to be rewoven in Italy; to the making of cotton wiper cloths in the rag business to a mill-tex processing plant that makes the stuffing for baseball gloves, punching bags, futon furniture, and even automobile flooring. Goodwill can be called the 'original recycler' as very little, if any, textile goes to landfills. Merchandise which does not sell in the stores after a set amount of time is recycled again to a 'sister' Goodwill in the Czech Republic where they tout it as 'Cheap American Clothing.'

The Retail Stores fulfill an important community need for those on fixed incomes; savvy shoppers who love a bargain, love Goodwill stores and all revenues support rehabilitation services offered by Goodwill right in our community. Retail is a very important aspect of the Goodwill organization, to be sure. But that's only a small part of Goodwill is all about.

There's a lot of Goodwill that goes on in our community to assist people with disabilities and special needs overcome barriers to Employment. The offices of CEO, Comprehensive Employment Opportunities, are also based in the new Goodwill building on Sumner Avenue. CEO is the career services arm of the agency providing the education, training and job network services to people. A staff of case managers, job coaches and placement specialists committed to assisting people with disabilities and special needs to become independent contributing members of our community. They provided services to nearly 1,000 people this past year.

Goodwill's Children and Family Support Services are vital to families with children and adult with disabilities. Family Support Services help families cope; give them a break from difficult daily routines through respite care services, assist in the emotional and physical support needed to sometimes cope with the crises of disabled family members; to help siblings adjust and most importantly to help families be and stay connected as they face daily challenges.

Goodwill also operates the Montessori Children's Corner in East Longmeadow - and would you believe it - a radio station...called Radio Reading Service g.w., which broadcasts 17 hours a day to people who are blind and print disabled; those who are perhaps not able to hold the daily newspaper because of a stroke or other condition. Radio Reading Service offers in-home receivers and may also be listened to over the Secondary Audio Channel on Channel 57 TV.

The Dorset Street campus also provides industrial services of assembly, packaging any other light manufacturing type jobs - jobs which provide training opportunities to people with disabilities and and a weekly paycheck. Taxpayers.

Goodwill Industries is a long time member of the Community United Way. United Way funds helped support a Safety Net Program to nearly 200 individuals this past year in their effort to gain the respect and dignity that comes with having a job and earning a pay check. Personal pride, satisfaction in a job well done and a reason to get up in the morning is not something that is taken for granted by these remarkable individuals who are striving to reach their own personal achievements. Goodwill serves a broad range of individuals with physical and emotional disabilities as well as veteran's, students in school to work programs; and many people with special needs like people making the effort to move from welfare to work, the homeless, people who have never worked before and those who a re-entering the work force.

Volunteering at Goodwill...A Health Habit for the New Year Goodwill volunteer opportunities are endless...be a mentor to a youngster - take them to a class or a movies; give the family of a disabled person a breather and feel good doing it...give 10 hours to help a Springfield school student learn computer basics at home with a Goodwill donated computer...volunteer in our computer repair and testing operation...be a Radio Reading Service reader...sort books; help in the stores; dress dolls; help out at Monday night Bingo; join a committee to assist with a special project; whatever your interests, Volunteering is a Healthy Habit - and a great way to resolve to do more in 1998, be more active, more involved and help those in need. Inquires about volunteering with Goodwill may be made to Carolyn Kenyon at 788-6981.

Goodwill Industries is a valuable community resource. Your donations help support all rehabilitation services though the retail sales program and are the lifeline in keeping an attractive, appealing store like The Goodwill Shoppes at the 'X' in business.

Goodwill Industries has repeatedly made the top ten list of 'Charities You Can Trust' .and their mission makes good sense in helping to create a better community. And best of our, they are an integral part of our Forest Park neighborhood.