May 15, 2002

Goodwill celebrates 30 years

Local program started with three staff and 11 clients

By LISA PERKINS
Herald staff writer
       With a century of service behind them, Goodwill Industries has their eye on the future. While nationally, Goodwill is in it's 100th year, locally the Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan is celebrating 30 years in the Grand Traverse region.
      At an open house celebration last week, local programs were showcased with tours of the facilities at the Employment and Training Center, Goodwill Inn and at area retail locations.
      Asgard Enterprises - now known as Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan - was started in 1972 with three staff members and 11 clients. They produced fishing lures for W.E. Brown in the old Parson's Helicopter building.
      In 1986, Asgard became part of Goodwill Industries International and opened it's first retail location. The Goodwill Inn Homeless Shelter opened in the former Land-O-Lakes Motel. Northwest Michigan Human Services joined with Goodwill that same year to provide Meals on Wheels.
      Today, Goodwill offers vocational, housing, transportation, nutritional, family strengthening and retail services including:
      - Workers on Wheels - In partnership with a collaboration of community agencies, WOW has provided 200 northern Michigan families with cars. Goodwill accepts donated cars, has them inspected by certified mechanics, authorizes repairs and distributes to individuals and families to obtain or maintain employment.
      - Goodwill Inn - The Inn provides emergency shelter, donated food, housing placement, job placement, vocational and veteran's services to homeless men, women and families in northern Michigan. In 2001, the Inn provided shelter to 355 homeless individuals, 288 adults and 67 children.
      - Meals on Wheels - Last year more than 126,000 meals were served to homebound seniors in northern Michigan. Goodwill along with Northwest Michigan Human Services, prepares and distributes meals five days a week.
      - Contract Worker Services - Goodwill provides an on-call work force for packaging, assembly, woodworking, shipping, sorting, etc. Goodwill workers provide a chance for persons who are disabled or disadvantaged to learn a new skill and a chance to succeed.
      - Let's Go To Work - Goodwill works with individuals with disabilities and other disabling conditions to obtain and maintain employment by offering work readiness training, work experience, classroom training, job coaching, job development, counseling and follow-along and retention services.
      - Retail Operations - Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan operates five retail locations as well as shopgoodwill.com on the Internet. In 2001, the retail stores generated 61 percent of the total agency operating funds.
      Part of the future of the Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan is a new building to house all of the programs in one location. The planned building would increase the number of families that could be housed in the homeless shelter as well as combining the donation, sorting, distribution and retail locations.