Give Goodwill!

 

by Katherine Boury, Seattle Goodwill
May 14, 2013

Give to Seattle Goodwill on Wednesday, May 15, and your donation will be doubled, up to $15,000!

Help expand our free adult job training and education programs and increase the number of people served from 6,265 to 8,500. Visit our Building the Future campaign page for more information on how you can help students like Roger.

Originally from Belgium, Roger De Rudder came to Seattle at the age of 58 because he met the woman he wanted to marry.  “At that age and without having a diploma or GED, it was hard to find a job,” he remembered.   Roger came to Goodwill to take some computer classes  because he wanted to find employment to start his new life here.  After finding the classes beneficial, he signed up for the Retail and Customer Service program.  “The classes go over retail skills, but it is a lot more like learning to manage your life.  You also learn to focus your time and finances.”

After he completed the program he was able to find a job at the Seattle Goodwill on Dearborn.  He continues to work for Goodwill and understands the value of the shoppers who support Goodwill.  “I like working for Goodwill because I am helping support the mission.”

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My New Book Club: Easy and Cheap

 

by Cindy Jobs, Organizing to Simplify
May 9, 2013

I love books and I love to read, but until recently I’d never participated in a book club. There were a few road blocks for me:

1. Generally the meeting times didn’t fit my busy schedule;
2. Most of the books didn’t pique my interest; and,
3. The biggie one . . . BOOKS ARE EXPENSIVE!

Well, I just joined a new book club and am very excited about how all of my former reservations have been resolved:

1. We are a virtual club, so I can “meet” in my bathrobe if I so choose.
2. We only select books that are relevant to my industry of Professional Organizing.
3. And the best part is that so far I’ve not had to spend a ton of money on books. The last three books I needed were available to purchase online via Amazon.com from Goodwill Industries affiliates across the country. Most of them were under $2 plus shipping and handling.

Unfortunately, I don’t have time to browse bookstores. When I need a book, I go right to Amazon and purchase it there. I used to purchase everything new, but because of my recent positive experiences buying used books through Goodwill affiliates (generally very highly-rated sellers), that’s my new method of choice. Boy, has that saved me a ton of money!

Here’s my book-buying tip:  When you need to buy a book, go ahead check to see if it is being sold used on Amazon by a Goodwill affiliate. Seattle Goodwill’s Amazon storefront has over 30,000 items for sale!  In addition to getting a great bargain, you will be doing a great deal of good by purchasing from an organization that provides free job training and education to those in need in our communities.

Looking for something other than books? You can also conveniently shop Seattle Goodwill online at their Shop Online page, which pulls items for sale from both their eBay storefront and shopgoodwill.com.

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Celebrating 90 Years | Learning at Seattle Goodwill

 

by Katherine Boury, Seattle Goodwill
May 7, 2013

"Life is a learning process," said Nemesio Lozano. The desire to keep learning is what brought him and other family members to Seattle Goodwill about three months after they arrived from the Philippines. He already had a degree in business economics, but needed some work experience in the United States. His aunt connected him with Goodwill's Retail and Customer Service Program.

The intensive nine-week course that combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training made him feel more comfortable about his skills. "Goodwill really helped us adjust to being in a new country while training us at a store," he remembered.

Now he is a supervisor at the Renton Goodwill, a job he really enjoys. "I feel good about helping customers and providing good service," added Nemesio.

Are you or someone you know looking to learn a new skill? Registration for the next class session is ongoing this week at all 10 of our job training and education centers. At each center there is also a computer lab open at certain times for community members to search for jobs, practice computer skills or work on Rosetta Stone. Contact your local job training and education center for more details.

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Celebrating 90 Years | Live Hi Up - An Interview with Angela Moorer

 

by Katherine Boury, Seattle Goodwill
May 2, 2013

Angela Moorer is passionate about eco-friendly fashion and sustainable design, and is a dedicated Goodwill shopper. Her blog, live hi up, inspires readers to aim higher with posts about sustainability, style, heath and creativity.

Where did you develop your passion for sustainable fashion and eco-beauty and what motivated you to start your blog live hi up?
My passion stems from a major lifestyle change I had a couple years ago. I decided to stop chemically manipulating the texture of my hair with relaxers in an effort to maintain a more natural and healthy beauty regimen. This decision felt so freeing that I decided to apply the same philosophy to more aspects of my life. It became important to me to make conscious and thoughtful decisions about the kinds of clothing and products I wore and used.

One of the biggest influencers in my decision to go natural was all of the inspirational blogs I read. It was hearing about the journey and experiences of others that made me realize the beauty of a healthy and socially-conscious lifestyle. I felt compelled to start my blog to share my personal journey in hopes that my voice would add a unique perspective, touching an audience that otherwise might not have been reached.

What does living hi up mean?
live hi up is about recognizing your full potential and being the best person you can be. Despite what the name may imply, it’s not about living lavishly with a lot of money or an excess of material possessions. The site aims to help others see things from a higher point of view by presenting eco-friendly fashion and beauty alternatives that put irresponsible shopping habits in perspective. Though our emphasis is on style and beauty products, we support and celebrate any responsibly-made creative entity that brings us to a conscious state of mind. We are obsessed with living.

When did you start shopping at Goodwill?
I’ve been shopping at the Goodwill for as long as I can remember. My mom’s a “thrifter” herself, so I would always tag along on her Goodwill outings. When I was little, before I discovered my love for fashion, I would rummage through bins of toys to find my next prized possession. I guess not much has changed, except now I’m rummaging through bins and racks of clothing.

What is your favorite Goodwill purchase?
I have way too many finds to label one as favorite! But recently I snagged a gorgeous black and white crocheted lace Free People maxi dress that I am madly in love with (pictured).

Do you have any tips for people who are new to thrifting?
Be creative and open to DIY projects. A lot of my fav finds are completely random and sometimes created by me with materials I find. I try to pay more attention to fabric types and patterns than I do the sizes/departments. Shopping Goodwill is like going through a thousand different people’s closets at once. A lot of things aren’t going to be in your size, but who says that XL men’s shirt won’t make a cute jacket or mini-dress on your size 4 figure? Or that fabulous emerald chiffon dress that is four sizes too small… why not cut it up and make headbands for your friends? And of course, the boys t-shirt section is the place to go for the most fun ironic screen tees.

What trends do you see coming up in sustainable fashion?
As far as a consumer trend, thrift shopping has absolutely blown up lately and I really see that continuing to grow. Some may think it’s a fad, but I believe thrift shopping is a habit that our generation is adopting and will continue to practice throughout our lifetimes.

Shopping at “fast fashion” stores has started to convey a stigma similar to eating at fast food restaurants - especially here in Seattle where many people really value green living. I think consumers are tired of buying cheap clothes that lack originality. We will definitely see consumers going for higher-quality items that may be more expensive, but will last them longer.

Industry-wise, I think we will begin to see more transparent supply chains from our favorite stores. Businesses are beginning to feel pressured to let us in the know (and hopefully clean up their practices) as consumers wise-up to ethical and eco-friendly fashion. We are beginning to really care where things come from, who made them, and what they are made of.

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Donate Today and Help Build The Future

 

by Katherine Boury, Seattle Goodwill
May 1, 2013

Join our Building the Future Campaign and help us serve even more people in the community. Over the next three years our goal is to increase the number of people served through our free job training and education programs from 6,265 to 8,500. We will work to grow our Career Pathways and Youth Year-Round Program, open new job training and education centers or improve existing centers, and more than double the number of people that we place in jobs.

Your support can help us build better futures for people like Geoffrey Kinyua, who faced barriers to employment when he first immigrated to the United States. Geoffrey wanted to find opportunities that he did not have in his home country of Kenya. He selected Seattle because he had friends in the area. "Coming to Goodwill was really a turning point in my life," he remembered. "Goodwill gave me a lifeline to determine what I wanted to do." So at age 55, Geoffrey, enrolled in a college preparatory class at Goodwill, determined he wanted to pursue a career in mental health because he has a "passion for helping people."

Despite the fact that English is not his first language and facing a strenuous education program, Geoffrey has done exceptionally well. He is studying to become a Chemical Dependency Professional Counselor at Seattle Community College. "I feel indebted to Goodwill because without Goodwill I would not be in school." He hopes his wife will soon be able to join him in Seattle and his adult sons plan to attend his graduation. Geoffrey is now also a Goodwill shopper. "I'm part of the Goodwill family and will hold Goodwill at the top of my heart."

Support our campaign today to help us build the future for more people like Geoffrey. Because jobs change lives.

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