JAG Virtual Handbook

For more information on J.A.G. call 727-440-7912

goodwill-suncoast.org | Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. 10596 Gandy Blvd., St. Petersburg, Fl. 33702

Contents An Introduction to Junior Ambassadors of Goodwill

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Goodwill Founder Edgar J. Helms – A Biography

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J.A.G. Virtual Volunteer Program

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J.A.G. Virtual Program Activities

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Our Mission A Half Century of Helping People

Orientation Zoom Meeting (1 Hour)

Goodwill Retail Store Tour (3 Hours)

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Complete following activities in any order

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Other Important Information

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Additional Service Opportunities

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Donation Drive (3 Hours) Canned Food Drive (3 Hours) BookWorks Children’s Book Drive (3 Hours) Goodwill Housing Cards of Encouragement (1-2 Hours) Trash Pick Up (3 Hours) Recycling Project (2 Hours) Goodwill Ambassador Virtual (Zoom) Meet and Greet (1 Hour) Student Online Survey (1 Hour)

Code of Ethics

Safety and Rules of Conduct

Confidentiality

Volunteer Harassment Policy

What to Do if You Are Being Harassed

Whistleblower Policy Questions or Problems

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An Introduction to Junior Ambassadors of Goodwill Welcome to the Junior Ambassadors of Goodwill Virtual Community Service initiative (J.A.G. Virtual).

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Goodwill Industries-Suncoast. As a J.A.G. Virtual volunteer, you will gain knowledge of Goodwill-Suncoast’s daily operations and its efforts to fulfill the mission to transform lives through lifelong learning and the power of work.

Goodwill-Suncoast accomplishes this mission through employment services, training programs, and affordable housing.

The sale of donated and new goods at Goodwill stores enables the agency to offer a variety of employment and training services, promote self-sufficiency, and contribute to community conservation through recycling.

Inaugurated in the summer of 2016, the Junior Ambassadors of Goodwill (J.A.G.) program has grown from a weeklong in-person summer program in three counties to include a once-a-month J.A.G. Weekend program and an academically focused J.A.G. Retail program with individual school systems.

J.A.G. Cares is a collaboration of activities that students participate in with the J.A.G. Program that gives back to our local community. Goodwill’s J.A.G. programs collaborate with Feeding Tampa Bay, Keep Pinellas Beautiful and Goodwill’s BookWorks program and five affordable housing communities.

Students that participate with these programs collect canned foods, do environmental trash pickup, perform recycling activities, collect children’s books to be distributed within the community, and create greeting cards for residents of Goodwill’s apartment communities who are seniors or have disabilities.

Goodwill-Suncoast is excited to add this virtual, off-site, volunteer opportunity for the convenience of the students residing in the Goodwill-Suncoast 10-county service area. Feel free to share this information with friends and encourage them to sign up with you.

A Half Century of Helping People Founded in October 1954 in downtown St. Petersburg, Goodwill-Suncoast immediately began work assisting a handful of people with disabilities to gain work skills and paychecks. Now Goodwill-Suncoast helps thousands of people overcome a variety of barriers through our employment programs, five subsidized apartment buildings, and rehabilitative community corrections facilities.

To support these services, Goodwill-Suncoast operates 20 retail stores and one outlet store.

Over 86% of Goodwill-Suncoast’s operating budget is devoted to our programs and services. During an average year, we serve more than 60,000 people and place more than 3,000 people in jobs in the community. Goodwill-Suncoast is headquartered in St. Petersburg and provides services to people in 10 counties – Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Polk, Hernando, Marion, Citrus, Sumter, Levy, and Highlands counties.

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Goodwill Founder Edgar J. Helms - A Biography Edgar James Helms (1863-1942), credited as the founder of the movement that would grow into Goodwill Industries©, was admired for his uncommon character and entrepreneurial vision.

Helms was born near Malone, NY on January 19, 1863. Early in life, Helms tried his hand at law and newspaper publishing but abandoned these endeavors after answering the call to the ministry in 1889 when he enrolled in the Boston University Theological School.

Helms and two fellow students requested that the City Missionary Society support them in opening a full-scale settlement house in the North End. Instead, they offered him a struggling inner city mission in Boston’s South End, Morgan Chapel, which a fellow minister, Henry Morgan, had established a generation earlier.

The young minister Helms was appalled at the conditions faced by immigrants who found themselves in a new country without jobs and sometimes desperate for food, clothing, and shelter. Using burlap bags from Thomas Wood and Company, Helms went door-to-door in Boston’s wealthiest districts asking for donations of clothing and household goods.

Goodwill© differed from many charities of the day, emphasizing that donated goods could be sold for profit and that the money would be used to pay workers who would help to refurbish those goods. Helms hired people in need — many of whom were considered unemployable — to do this repair work. Employees received $4 a day. When money was scarce, workers received $5 clothing vouchers.

Although it wasn’t until 1915 that the term Goodwill Industries was coined, 1902 became known as the year Goodwill was born. With the help of Methodist Church funding, Helms went on to help establish Goodwill Industries organizations across the U.S. By 1920, there were 15 individual Goodwill locations, including Morgan Memorial in Boston.

Helms would not be content until the Goodwill message spread around the world. In 1926, he began travels that would take him to Australia, China, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia,

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Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India, Egypt, and several European countries. While traveling the world, Helms wrote much of the book, “Pioneering in Modern City Missions.”

Major economic and political crises like World War I, the financial crash of 1929, and the Great Depression solidified the need for an organization like Goodwill. In 1934, realizing Goodwill needed to have a bigger hand in rehabilitation, Helms prophetically wrote, “Goodwill will be out of business if it does not take over work with the handicapped people.”

In 1892 he married Jean Preston, his childhood sweetheart. They had three children together before Jean died of Tuberculosis in 1898. Three years later, he married Jean’s sister, Grace. After a long life dedicated to helping others, Helms died on December 23, 1942, leaving behind his wife Grace and 12 children.

An estimated 1,500 people thronged Boston’s Morgan Memorial Church of All Nations to pay final tribute at his funeral on December 27.

Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam spoke these words in his eulogy “[Helms] was blessed with a fine mind, a great heart and a strong will. His unusual business ability, passionate devotion, and physical strength enabled him to serve his fellow man, who were uninterested in charity, but yearned for a chance.”

In 2002 during Goodwill’s Centennial Celebration, a bronze medallion in Helms’ honor was added to The Extra Mile – Points of Light Volunteer Pathway in Washington, DC, the only national monument that honors individuals who selflessly champion causes to help others realize a better America.

Today, Goodwill Industries International sponsors two annual national awards that honor staff members in local Goodwill agencies who exemplify Helms’ values of unselfish service, self-reliance and a strong work ethic.

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J.A.G. Virtual Volunteer Program The Junior Ambassadors of Goodwill (J.A.G.) Virtual Program allows middle and high school students aged 14 and up to satisfy Florida Bright Futures Scholarship community service hour and other academic service requirements. Students conduct community service on their own under the direction of Goodwill-Suncoast Volunteer Services staff on behalf of Goodwill.

The J.A.G. Virtual Volunteer…

1. receives one (1) J.A.G. T-shirt and ID Badge to wear while visiting Goodwill retail locations and while working in the community.

2. reads and is familiar with the student handbook and Orientation Module.

3. wears closed-toe shoes and appropriate clothing, including JAG T-Shirt and ID Badge, while touring Goodwill retail locations, working with community members, and performing trash pick-up.

4. earns up to 22 hours of community service for their participation in Goodwill’s J.A.G. Virtual Program.

5. receives a certificate upon completion of the program.

6. learns all they can about Goodwill-Suncoast and its mission.

7. is a true Ambassador of Goodwill and educates the community about Goodwill’s mission.

8. maintains a positive attitude and has fun!

Orientation Zoom Meeting (1 Hour) After registration by submitting the necessary application and Parental Consent Form for Youth Volunteers, J.A.G. Virtual volunteers will attend a Zoom Orientation meeting near the beginning of the quarter during which they are to participate.

This Orientation will introduce the J.A.G. Virtual Volunteer to Goodwill-Suncoast, The Junior Ambassadors of Goodwill programs, outline program expectations, and last between 30 minutes to one hour, giving students and their parents and/or guardians the opportunity to ask questions.

The Goodwill-Suncoast Volunteer Services Department may conduct multiple Zoom meetings depending upon the number of registered participants. Zoom invitations will be sent upon registration along with other necessary program components such as, Parental Consent Form for Youth Volunteers, J.A.G. Virtual Project Verification Signature Form, etc.

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Please Note: Goodwill uses Canvas to manage J.A.G. Virtual volunteer efforts. Canvas invitations will be sent to student email address listed on their application.

The Goodwill-Suncoast Volunteer Services Department will complete and sign School District Community Service Hour Verification forms at the end of the program. Scan and email forms to james.hampton@goodwill-suncoast.com for appropriate signatures and he will complete, scan, and return them to you.

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J.A.G. Virtual Program Activities Each of the J.A.G. Virtual service components follow the activities of the traditional J.A.G. Summer and J.A.G. Weekend programs as closely as possible.

J.A.G. Virtual Participants earn up to 25 hours of community service by completing the entire program. Goodwill-Suncoast understands not all opportunities are available in all communities; however, students will earn hours for those components successfully completed. GoodwillSuncoast may award more hours to individuals who provide evidence of going beyond program requirements.

Upon registration, you will receive a J.A.G. Virtual Project Verification Signature Form. This form will require signatures of Parent/Guardian and/or Goodwill-Suncoast managers and the student volunteer. Once finished with all components, J.A.G. Virtual Volunteers should complete and return the form with all necessary signatures to Jim Hampton, Volunteer Specialist, at james.hampton@ goodwill-suncoast.com or to Scott Coursen, Community Relations Coordinator, at scott.coursen@ goodwill-suncoast.com.

In addition to the Project Verification Signature Form, participants will submit a photo of themselves at the end of each activity. More details follow in individual program activity descriptions.

An informational flyer is available explaining the program to help you educate others about your efforts to help our BookWorks, Donations, and J.A.G. Cares Canned Food Drives.

Goodwill Retail Store Tour (3 Hours) Visit a Goodwill retail location and take a tour. While there, you will learn about Goodwill’s donation stream and retail operations. We ask that you complete the tour first to put the program in its proper context.

Please Note: A video Store Tour may be used in lieu of in-person tours.

Prepare for your store visit by wearing closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing. Bring a facemask. Depending

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upon the Covid-19 Pandemic, you may be required to wear a mask to enter the store. Please take a photo of yourself at the store for submission.

Upon registration confirmation, you will receive an email listing the date, time and store locations. Choose the date along with the location you wish to visit and notify Jim Hampton, james.hampton@goodwill-suncoast.com or Scott Coursen, scott.coursen@goodwill-suncoast. com, of your desired tour dates and location for approval and confirmation. Slots are assigned on a first come, first served basis and may be limited. You must have a reservation to tour a Goodwill retail store. Store tour video provided as a YouTube link.

Please wear your J.A.G. t-shirt and badge when touring the store, when interacting at donation sites, and with the public on behalf of the program.

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Complete the following activities in any order.

Donation Drive (3 Hours) Goodwill thrives on donations from members of the community. For this activity, you will host your own donation drive. Whether you look in the garage and closets of your own home and/ or invite your neighbors to participate by allowing you to help them lighten their load, collect items and take them to your local Goodwill retail location’s donation door. As you drop off your donations, take a photo of yourself with your donations while at the store and upload it to the appropriate Canvas Module. Don’t forget to have your form signed.

Please Note: If you do not have a Goodwill retail location in your county or near your home, please take items to the non-profit organization of your choosing. Make sure to indicate the location on your form.

Canned Food Drive (3 Hours) As you learned in Orientation, J.A.G. Cares is a collaboration of activities that students participate in with Goodwill’s J.A.G. Program that gives back to our local community. One way this is accomplished is through partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay. Students that participate with the program donate canned foods to the food bank.

Ask your parents about your own pantry and/or invite your neighbors to contribute. Please collect canned goods only. Drop off your canned goods collection at the donation door of your local Goodwill retail location’s donation door. Goodwill will make sure the items reach the Feeding Tampa Bay food bank.

As you drop off your donations, take a photo of yourself with your donations while at the store and upload it to the appropriate Canvas Module. Don’t forget to have your form signed.

Please Note: If you do not have a Goodwill retail location in your county or near your home, please take items to the non-profit organization of your choosing.

Make sure to indicate the location on your form.

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BookWorks Children’s Book Drive (3 Hours) As outlined in the orientation, Goodwill-Suncoast collects and distributes children’s books to area Head Start and elementary students. You’ll support BookWorks by collecting books for the program. Books may be new or gently used. Take a photo of yourself with your book donation while at the store and upload it to the appropriate Canvas Module. Be sure to tell us how many books you donated on the signature form. Please Note: If you do not have a Goodwill retail location in your county or near your home, please take books to the non-profit organization of your choosing. Make sure to indicate the location on your form.

Goodwill Housing Cards of Encouragement (1-2 Hours) Goodwill-Suncoast operates five apartment communities that provide affordable living options for seniors and people with disabilities. Each provides rent subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on a scale based on expenses and income.

Goodwill’s Freedom Village apartments in Pinellas Park, Tampa, and Clearwater are architecturally barrier-free facilities for people who have disabilities. Heritage Oaks apartments in Palm Harbor and Ocala are designed specifically for people who are 62 years old with low incomes.

In total, Goodwill-Suncoast offers the community 335 rent-subsidized apartments. These beautifully maintained facilities have professionally landscaped grounds, attractive common areas and caring management.

Many residents have limited mobility and/or do not get many visitors.

Our residents love to hear from our young volunteers. For this activity you’ll create greeting cards for residents at the community of your choosing. Create at least five (5) cards for one hour credit and at least (10) cards for two hours of credit. A list of ideas for encouragement cards is available on our website. Be as creative as you’d like, but remember your messages should be of a positive and upbeat nature.

Once you have completed your cards, mail them to Jim Hampton, Volunteer Specialist, at the address found on the Cards of Encouragement Packing Slip. Fill out the packing slip and include it in the package with your cards.

Remember to take a photo with the cards you created and and upload it to the appropriate Canvas Module. Volunteers are responsible for packaging and postage. Jim Hampton will distribute the cards to Goodwill apartment communities periodically throughout the year.

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Trash Pick Up (3 Hours) For this activity, you will choose a safe location to perform a trash clean-up: local community park, neighborhood, a section of beach or shoreline. If a friend signed up with you, feel free to combine your efforts for this activity but please remember to follow social distancing guidelines and be safe.

Be sure to pay attention to and follow all private property notices and other posted signage. Watch for traffic. Be mindful of wild animals. FOR YOUR SAFETY, DO NOT PICK UP ALONG ANY ROADWAY. Wear gloves. Wear proper footwear and sun protection. Utilize a grabber if available. Do not pick up sharp objects like broken glass or other potentially dangerous items like hypodermic needles. Collect trash in standard plastic trash bags.

Submit a photo of yourself with the bags you collected and the number of bags you have collected. Have a parent sign the form stating you completed the activity. Dispose of collected trash in accordance with your local trash collection practices.

Recycling Project (2 Hours) In addition to our shared efforts with Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Goodwill-Suncoast is committed to community conservation through recycling. Last year we collected over 64 million pounds of donation. While much of what we collect is sold in our retail stores, some is not and will be sold as salvage or sent for recycling.

You probably already participate in a recycling program at home and/or school. If not, please consider discussing with your family the possibility of beginning one. Collect recyclables at home for one week per local recycling program guidelines. If you do not recycle already, please take recyclables to local recycling center. Ask a parent or guardian to sign your form. Take a photo of your collection and submit it.

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Goodwill Ambassador Virtual (Zoom) Meet and Greet (1 Hour) Goodwill Ambassadors are business leaders and professionals who volunteer together to find ways to give back to the community, develop advocacy skills, practice public speaking, and meet like-minded business, government, and social service leaders in our community. Our Ambassadors are involved in meaningful community outreach, fundraising, and fun networking.

These community professionals participate in planning and execution of fundraising and “friend”-raising events to benefit Goodwill’s programs and services. Additionally, Ambassadors host lunch ‘n’ learns or evening networking events with local companies, social groups or friends, and family. They also direct volunteer opportunities within the Goodwill network of programs and services. J.A.G. Virtual Volunteers will meet via Zoom with one of these Goodwill Ambassadors to learn more about how these professionals work to support the Goodwill mission and about opportunities for continued involvement with Goodwill in the future as adult professionals.

Student Online Survey (1 Hour) Now that you have completed the projects and submitted all the photos and signature form, please help us to make J.A.G. Virtual the best volunteer experience it can be by filling out the Online Student Survey. A link to the survey will be emailed at the end of the quarter. We appreciate your honest and constructive opinion.

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Other Important Information Code of Ethics J.A.G. Virtual volunteers are responsible for being knowledgeable about Goodwill’s code of ethics and for conducting themselves accordingly. Goodwill-Suncoast expects ethical conduct at all times in all matters. J.A.G. Virtual Volunteers should ask any questions about whether or not a specific situation presents a potential conflict with this policy to the attention of the Volunteer Services Department.

J.A.G. Virtual Volunteers shall:

• Conduct themselves professionally and in a manner that creates and maintains respect for Goodwill

• Avoid any action that might result in or create the appearance of adversely affecting the

confidence of the public in the integrity of Goodwill

• Not use or possess illegal drugs or narcotics or abuse any drugs or narcotics at any time

• Not show partiality toward or become emotionally, physically, sexually, or financially involved with program participants, employees or residents

• Not offer to give any article, favor, or service which is not authorized in the performance of the volunteer’s duties

• Not show favoritism or give preferential treatment to any individual or group over another

• Not use profanity, obscene, or abusive language when communicating with others

• Not engage in any conduct that is criminal in nature or which would bring discredit upon Goodwill

• Not use brutality, physical violence, or intimidation toward others Safety and Rules of Conduct The J.A.G. Virtual program requires that you move about the community. Please remember to be cautious and observe all posted traffic signs/laws. Be mindful of your surroundings while performing trash pick-up activities and be sure to have someone with you. Observe all posted No Trespassing signs if applicable. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing at all times. Please make sure you have parent or guardian permission before undertaking any aspect of the J.A.G. Virtual Program.

Remember, while volunteering you are representing yourself, Goodwill-Suncoast, and your school. Please conduct yourself in a kind, courteous, and professional manner with everyone with whom you interact.

Confidentiality Goodwill complies with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and the HITECH Act, which serves to ensure the confidentiality of all program participants’ Protected Health Information (PHI) from unauthorized viewing, use and disclosure. PHI, including protected health information stored or maintained electronically (ePHI) includes any information that identifies the individual such as medical, financial, personal information, records, data, etc.

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Volunteer Harassment Policy It is the policy of Goodwill Industries-Suncoast to provide an environment free of harassment and discrimination. Goodwill will not tolerate any form of harassment based upon an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran’s status, or other protected status. For these purposes, the term harassment includes, but is not limited to, slurs, jokes, and other verbal, graphic, or physical conduct relating to an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran’s status, or other protected status. The term harassment also includes sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other conduct of a sexual nature. Any volunteer acting contrary to this policy will be subject to corrective action up to and including separation from their volunteer position. Harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran’s status, or other protected status is defined as conduct that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

What to Do if You Are Being Harassed You should immediately contact Jim Hampton, Volunteer Specialist or Scott Coursen, Community Relations Manager.

Whistleblower Policy Goodwill will not retaliate against any employee or volunteer who, in good faith, raises a complaint, discloses, or threatens to disclose truthful information regarding a suspected violation at Goodwill.

Retaliation includes discharge, demotion, suspension, threats, harassment, or any adverse employment action.

Questions or Problems If you run into problems or have questions about one thing or another during your volunteer experience, please contact Jim Hampton at 727-440-7912 or Scott Coursen at 727-440-7861.

Additional Service Opportunities Contact Jim Hampton, james.hampton@goodwill-suncoast.com, or Scott Coursen, scott.coursen@ goodwill-suncoast.com, to learn more about in-person Junior Ambassadors of Goodwill programs.

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Notes

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