Goodwill Mission Stories

At Goodwill we strive to meet the needs of the communities we serve through the Power of Work. Our mission has remained strong for 100 years and without you, it simply wouldn't be possible. Thank you for supporting our mission!

Posted by Goodwill Staff on Dec 7, 2020 6:04:33 PM

Jerry

After coming out of retirement feeling depressed and, in a rut, Jerry came to Goodwill to connect with others and find meaningful work. Originally, he planned to work for a year or two but has enjoyed his job as a production associate so much that he has stayed on board and recently celebrated his 9th anniversary!  

Posted by Goodwill Staff on Nov 23, 2020 3:39:57 PM

Nicol

One of my husband Dan’s earliest memories was when he was six years old. He saw an Army Ranger in uniform and thought, that’s what a superhero looks like. That memory eventually inspired his own service in the Army.

Posted by Goodwill Staff on Nov 16, 2020 11:18:53 AM

John

When John Work left the Marines as an accomplished 1st Lieutenant, he entered the Marine Corps Reserves where he earned the rank of Captain. Now, John continues to serve his fellow Marines and other American soldiers through his work as an HR Advisor for Goodwill in Illinois.

Posted by Goodwill Staff on Nov 9, 2020 9:22:20 AM

George

I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1959. While growing up, I spent some time in Detroit, Michigan but moved back to Milwaukee to finish up high school.

Posted by Goodwill Staff on Nov 2, 2020 3:47:36 PM

Jodi

I grew up in Lafayette, Indiana as the youngest of four kids in a single-parent household. Some of my first memories are of being enthralled by aircraft. My mom used to take me to O’Hare International Airport so I could watch all the planes land and take off.

Posted by Goodwill Staff on Oct 12, 2020 2:47:26 PM

Shawn

Shawn lives by himself and enjoys the connections he has with his church, watching TV (Knight Rider is his favorite) and daydreaming.  

Posted by Goodwill Staff on Oct 5, 2020 10:24:22 AM

Diana

I was born in Chicago and as a young child was adopted into a Puerto Rican family. Growing up, I lived in the Humboldt Park neighborhood – a prominent area for Latinos. There are restaurants and bakeries that cater to our culture, and we celebrated who we are on a regular basis by getting together with family for traditional Puerto Rican meals.

Posted by Goodwill Staff on Sep 28, 2020 1:13:33 PM

Edilma

As Panamanian-born Edilma Rodriguez strives to be a leader in her community, it all comes down to faith: faith in the idea that everyone is born for a purpose, faith in the concept of giving back, and faith in the power of visibility.

Posted by Goodwill Staff on Sep 27, 2020 1:13:19 PM

Will

I grew up with a tight-knit family, and my first role models were my parents. My father is Mexican, and he came to the United States when he was only 20 years old. He worked in the fields in Mexico when he was a kid and in factories after he moved to the United States. My mother also worked throughout my childhood – sometimes multiple jobs. Seeing how hard they work resonates with me to this day.

Posted by Goodwill Staff on Sep 21, 2020 4:03:47 PM

Luis

For Luis Mercado, perspective is everything. Growing up in Milwaukee, he watched as his parents struggled to assimilate and financially find their way.

Posted by Gazelle Arga - Goodwill Marketing Coordinator on Sep 14, 2020 9:27:04 AM

Isamar

After losing her job in the culinary industry, Isamar turned to Goodwill’s Workforce Connection Center (WCC) in Bay View to help find essential work just as the pandemic began.

Posted by Goodwill Staff on Aug 31, 2020 3:55:48 PM

Zeudi

Goodwill's Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program is a partnership with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division, Wisconsin Division of Rehabilitation (DVR), the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

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