Goodwill Industries® Week was first celebrated in May 1951. This year, we celebrate the 61st Goodwill Industries® Week, May 6 through May 12. This time is especially important for us to thank supporters of Goodwill, and most importantly, recognize and celebrate the people Goodwill serves.
Our mission at Goodwill is to provide training, employment and supportive services for people with disabilities or disadvantages who seek greater independence. Our vision is to be a recognized leader in helping people with disabilities and other barriers to employment develop work and life skills, find work and successfully perform that work.
Beyond our Stores
One of the first things people recognize about Goodwill is the Goodwill Store & Donation Center - and rightly so, for the stores are a key component of our history and our daily operations. But there is so much more to Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago.
Human Services is why Goodwill exists. Annually, the agency serves over 48,000 men and women through various programs and services including, workforce connection centers, vocational and employment services, day service programs, skill training in Business Careers, Food Service, and Light Industrial. Senior Services provide Meals on Wheels, Dining Centers, Shopping and Errand programs. Goodwill's Work Services offers on-site employment in packaging, assembly and inspection for persons with severe and multiple disabilities.
Goodwill Great Lakes provides food service, logistics, laundry and administrative services for both Sailors and recruits at Naval Station Great Lakes, the only Navy boot camp in the United States and the largest ashore food service operation. Annually, Goodwill serves nearly nine million meals in nine galleys, issues over 2.68 million uniform items and processes four million pieces of mail.
Goodwill Manufacturing provides quality contract services such as packaging, assembly, inspection, rework from foreign sources, and return goods processing for nationally known companies and other local companies.
Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago has served the needs of individuals facing barriers to employment since its establishment in a Westside church in 1919. The Goodwill Workforce Connection Centers represent its strength, where anyone looking for work can find the resources and technology to help them find a job.
