Headquartered in Spokane, Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest is one of more than 160 members of Goodwill Industries International, one of the five largest nonprofit social services agencies in the world. They serve individuals and families throughout eastern Washington and northern Idaho.

Many they serve have physical or developmental disabilities, while others seek to overcome mental health impairments, a lack of work skills/history, a record of incarceration, or homelessness. Still others are transitioning from dependence on public assistance to self-sufficiency.

Goodwill’s modern retail stores located throughout the Inland Northwest support their services while offering fun and practical bargains for shoppers of every income level. When you donate gently used items to Goodwill they become treasures for others and help us continue our service to those who need “a hand up, not a hand out.” Eighty-five cents of every dollar spent in our stores goes back to fund our programs!

As examples of their company’s involvement in the community, team members have participated in several events over the years around Spokane. Their current involvement is in the Spokane Women’s Show and Race for the Cure benefiting Breast Cancer Awareness. This year Team Goodwill participated in the Sunday morning Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Team Goodwill fielded 22 runners/walkers and Goodwill employees raised $680.10 for the cause.

 

Recently their Workforce and Family Services Department donated 2 large and 30 small pet accessory gift baskets to SCRAPS to distribute to newly adopting pet owners. They’ve also helped the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, SNAP, and several other organizations.

 

Quote from Goodwill’s Director of Workforce & Family Service, Michele Harris:

 

 

Goodwill Industries President/CEO, Clark Brekke serving up hamburgers for the employees.

Clark travels to all of their locations over the course of the summer to show his appreciation by cooking up the best burgers in town.

 

In addition to being the designated Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) and 4^th Quarter Way to Go All Star Coach, Diana Smith is the Human Resources Office Administrator. Her primary duties include administrative support to the General Manager and Director of HR, various other important HR functions, the community volunteer program and Goodwill’s CTR program.

 

One of Diana’s proudest CTR moments was not getting booed off stage the first time she got up to sing karaoke in front of her fellow employees as she promoted CTR in a fun and creative way! Every time she promotes CTR with a skit or song she receives applause and hearty laughs and many times her employees and management even sing along!

 

Diana states “I am grateful to Goodwill for their support of the CTR Program and proud of the program we have built, including being able to now offer a subsidized bus pass, $20 bicyclist subsidy and multiple other benefits to all participants. I look forward to growing it even more in the future for the benefit of all!”