Cory Matteson

Lincoln Journal Star

April 8, 2012

February 23, 2012

SPRING CLEANING HELPS OTHERS FIND JOBS
Goodwill^® Donations Fund Career Services for People Who Are Unemployed in Lincoln

Lincoln, NE — Although we often hear in the news that our city enjoys a low unemployment rate, these statistics are little consolation for those who remain unemployed due to barriers to employment or to those who are underemployed.  Many people in our community still have difficulty entering the labor market and providing for their families. The simple act of cleaning out your closets and donating to Goodwill this spring will provide critical career services and programs to help people who are unemployed in Lincoln to once again earn paychecks. 

          “People without jobs, especially those who have been unemployed for long periods of time, need the extra attention and support that Goodwill has provided in Lincoln for eighty years.” said Joanne Pickrel, CEO 

          The end of winter has long signaled the perfect time to declutter closets, attics and other storage spaces. Yet, spring cleaning has benefits beyond tidier households. A family’s donation of gently used clothing and household goods can be sold in Goodwill stores and online at shopgoodwill.com^®. The revenues fund Goodwill’s  community-based services that can lead to jobs and fresh starts for people without jobs. Goodwill provides career services that anyone in southeast Nebraska can use to boost their chances of getting hired, including assistance in writing a résumé, job interview practice and access to job leads with leading employers. 

          During spring cleaning, families can make the best use of their storage spaces by keeping their belongings organized. Lorie Marrero, Certified Professional Organizer^® and organizing expert for Good Housekeeping magazine, provides useful tips and techniques to help families keep their spaces streamlined. As a spokesperson for Goodwill’s Donate Movement, she can speak on the positive impact donated items can have on people in local communities. Marrero is also the author of The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life, and creator of the ClutterDiet.com, an online program that helps people stay organized. 

          “When your spring cleaning ends with a donation to Goodwill, people looking for employment right here in Lincoln will benefit from your generosity,” said Pickrel.  “Your donations fund Goodwill’s employment programs that create jobs and strengthen families and the economic health of our community.” 

          Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc.’s mission is willing workers employed and community resources maximized. Through programs that train individuals with barriers to employment and help them find paying work, Goodwill serves the Lincoln community with results of lower unemployment and less reliance on government assitance. Additionally, Goodwill contributes to ecological balance through massive recycling efforts of unsaleable textiles and other products.

          The community can support Goodwill all year long by donating their gently-used items, shopping at Goodwill Stores and making tax-deductble financial donations.

          Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc. serves such populations as people with physical, mental and emotional disabilities, those who have been recently incarcerated, and new Americans and refugees. Revenue for Goodwill comes from a variety of sources. The sale of donated goods remains the greatest source of funding for programs Goodwill provides. Learn more at www.lincolngoodwill.org.

Amanda Herndon

Communications Specialist

amanda@lincolngoodwill.org

(402) 438-2022 ext. 118

www.lincolngoodwill.org

www.facebook.com/LincolnGoodwill

Throughout our busy days, it is easy to forget about the spirit of kindness and the simple actions that can be taken to show kindness to others. During the second full week in February, make it a goal to do at least one act of kindness that is out of your general scope each day.  Even if the action is small, it could mean a great deal to someone.

To find ideas or read others' stories about when someone showed them kindness, visit www.randomactsofkindness.org