This week, city mayors along the coast are joining mayors throughout the United States in proclaiming National Goodwill Week.

Goodwill Industries is known to many on the Gulf Coast for its stores where bargains of many kinds can be found and for a place that accepts “stuff” that one can donate and get a tax write-off.

But Goodwill is much more than that.

Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi, established on the Gulf Coast in 1974 as part of a world wide organization, is a not-for-profit organization that assists people with disabilities and those who are otherwise vocationally disadvantaged to achieve full participation and integration into society.

Goodwill of South Mississippi accomplished this by developing effective services that enable clients to attain personal and economic goals.

Services provided include counseling, GED classes, job skills training, ancillary training, job seeking and resume writing assistance, referral for outside services and various employment opportunities within the Goodwill centers and beyond.

In 2013, Goodwill of South Mississippi provided 15,612 services to 3,731 people.

 

Jim Collins

Goodwill executive