Goodwill® Announces Results of Neighborhood Challenge
Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc. kicked off the start of summer with its first ever Neighborhood Challenge, which began May 26 and ended July 6. The six weeklong event was a friendly competition between the neighborhoods of Lincoln, NE and promoted community involvement through donation drives and garage sales. The top three neighborhoods who collected the most items to be donated to Goodwill received cash prizes to invest back into the community project of their choice.
Six neighborhoods participated in the Neighborhood Challenge and collectively donated almost 18,000 pounds of miscellaneous clothing, furniture, and household items to Goodwill. The winners were 40th and A Neighborhood Association (9,053 pounds), Eastridge Neighborhood Association (2,595 pounds), and Arnold Heights/Arnold School-Neighborhood Advisory Committee (2,568 pounds).
Each association has expressed how they plan to strengthen their community with the prize money which includes the revitalization of Sunburst Park, located in the 40thand A area, a new walking path and updated playground equipment at Eastridge Elementary School, and a community event to celebrate the history and diversity of the NW 48thStreet neighborhoods. “This event helped bring our neighborhood together and revitalize our association. Winning third place was an unexpected, pleasant surprise!” said Dayna Krannawitter of the Arnold Heights/Arnold School-Neighborhood Advisory Committee.
The donations made to Goodwill help fund employment based programs operated by Goodwill and include the Job Connection computer lab located in Work Force Development’s One Stop Career Center. Donations to Goodwill also help fund other organizations’ employment programs, including Heartland Big Brothers Big Sisters, Lincoln Literacy, Community Justice Center, The Arc of Lincoln, and YWCA Job Outfitters.
“Goodwill continually strives to strengthen the Lincoln community through its programming, support of other local non-profits, and its recycling efforts,” said Amanda Herndon, Communications Director for Goodwill. “This was a unique way for Goodwill to share its mission and promote community while supporting individual neighborhoods’ visions of their own stronger community.”
