Sharing the Good - Fall Newsletter

Good

Platte River Charity Shoot Customized Employment Mission Connect Retail Update Holiday Shopping Tips Stehlik Awarded 2020 Vision for the Future Upcoming Events

2021 Fall Newsletter

Sharing the

Featured In This Issue:

SECURING EMPLOYMENT CREATING INDEPENDENCE INSPIRING HOPE SUPPORTING PERSONAL GROWTH

28th Annual Platte River Charity Shoot Has Outstanding Turnout

By Lindsey Miles

Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska and event partner, Hornady Manufacturing hosted the 28th Annual Platte River Charity Shoot on Saturday, July 17th at the Heartland Public Shooting Park, located west of Grand Island Individual shooters competed for six places in four Lewis Class Divisions, having the opportunity to win some amazing prizes that included optics, gift bags and ammo. Youth shooters had a chance to win one of eight college scholarships that were given away totaling $5,000. In addition, corporate teams won some great prizes. The event overall saw an outstanding turn out with 65 individuals, 35 corporate teams and 27 youth/adult team entries. Many Goodwill employees, board members and friends of Goodwill volunteered their time to help with the event.

“We couldn’t have done it without the outstanding sponsors, shooters and volunteers. The community’s support for our event this year was amazing” said Lindsey Miles, Director of Marketing and Development, who was the event coordinator.

During the awards ceremony, a plaque was presented to Nancy, Badura, wife of the late Larry Badura in honor of his years of volunteerism and dedication to planning the Platte River Charity Shoot.

The Platte River Charity Shoot is Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska’s only fundraiser besides the annual drive that kicks off in

November. Funds raised at the event help support the services & programs that Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska provides for individuals experiencing a developmental disability, mental health condition, substance use disorder, acquired brain injury or barriers such as poverty or involvement in the legal system.

A complete list of winners from the shooter competition and raffle can be viewed at: www.PlatteRiverCharityShoot.com.

Please see our event sponsors on page 6.

SAVE THE DATE: Next year’s event will be on Saturday, July 16, 2022!

Customized Employment Creates

Opportunities to Thrive!

“Our experience of working with Serena has been nothing short of wonderful! She assists us with tasks which are often difficult for our staff to get to during busy times. Serena is dependable and conscientious.

Jennifer, her job-training coach, was amazing in training not only Serena, but also our staff. Serena has become a member of our Live Well family – we love her!” - Barb Enberg, Owner of Live Well Physical Therapy

By Kim Buschkoetter Defined by the U.S. Department of Labor, ODEP (Office of Disability Employment Policy), “customized employment is a flexible process designed to personalize the employment relationship between a job candidate and an employer in a way that meets the needs of both. It is based on an individualized match between the strengths, conditions, and interests of a job candidate and the identified business needs of an employer. Customized Employment utilizes an individualized approach to employment planning and job development – one person at a time….one employer at a time.”

For Serena, this definition transformed into reality. Serena enrolled into Goodwill’s Employment and Career Services in September 2020 with limited work experience, feeling uncomfortable in social situations and having difficulty communicating with people she didn’t know, but excited Serena can be found to overcome challenges and find a job that matched her strengths, talents folding towels and doing routine cleaning at and preferences. After exploring Serena’s interests, Serena’s Employment Live Well Physical Therapy.

Specialist, Jen, developed an On-The-Job Experience (OJE) with a potential employer. Jen supported Serena with on-site job coaching for three months. Serena was hired on as a regular, competitive part-time employee at Live Well Physical Therapy at the end of the OJE. Barb Enberg, Physical Therapist and Owner of Live Well Physical Therapy, shares her experience, “Our experience of working with Serena has been nothing short of wonderful! She assists us with tasks which are often difficult for our staff to get to during busy times. Serena is dependable and conscientious. Jennifer, her job-training coach, was amazing in training not only Serena, but also our staff. Serena has become a member of our Live Well family – we love her!”

Is there a customized job opportunity at your business?

- What product or service do you currently not provide that you would like to provide?

- What resources are needed to provide the service or product?

- What keeps your work flow from going smoothly?

- What is currently not getting done?

Visit goodwillne.org to find an Employment and Career Services office near you and find out more about Customized Employment at your place of business.

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Mission Connect Helps With Education & Outreach This spring, we launched a new way to connect people with our services called Mission Connect. The purpose of Mission Connect is to provide a point-of-entry into our services by removing traditional access barriers and strengthen the public’s understanding of the relationship between retail and mission.

Our belief is that by strengthening this connection, the public will more fully understand how their donations and purchases support services Goodwill provides and the full value Goodwill brings to our communities.

Inside the Mission Connect rooms, there are step-by-step instructions to help guide the visitor in connecting with a Service Navigator through a virtual portal environment. The Service Navigator is available to answer questions about the services Goodwill provides in the community and will assist the visitor in connecting with the most appropriate Goodwill program for the visitor’s needs - whether it’s for themselves or a loved one.

We are excited to reach more people in our communities heightening awareness that Goodwill is more than the store. In fact, last year over 2,200 people received services across greater Nebraska through our Behavioral Health Services, Development Disability Services, Employment and Career Services, Reporting Centers and COVID related support.

Exterior & interior photos of the Mission Connect booth.

Mission Connect is available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in our Hastings, Kearney, and Grand Island - South Locust retail stores.

Mission Connect is available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in our Hastings, Kearney, and Grand Island - South Locust retail stores.

For more information about Mission Connect, visit www.goodwillne.org.

Sharing Our Services & Mission With Others At the beginning of September, our Goodwill hosted Dan Owen, CEO and Danial Gum, Director of Mission Services from Goodwill Industries Tamara Snider, Director of Employment of Kanawha Valley, Inc. in and Career Services, discusses how her Charleston, West Virginia. department helps individuals build skills, Dan & Danial visited with become competitively employed, and maintain employment through it’s employees of our Goodwill supported employment program. to learn about the quality and varied Mission Services that we provide as they look to grow their Mission side of their organization.

Find Meaningful Work, Right at Home A Shared Living environment provides a home for people, a home where a person living with a disability is included, supported and given opportunities to grow and learn. “I have witnessed lives transformed due to the Shared Living environment. Individuals grow their confidence, independent living skills, and overall happiness. Provider’s lives are transformed as well – contributing to the success of others is rewarding and meaningful. It is truly a win-win for individuals and providers. “ - Danelle, Director of Developmental Disability Services

We have an immediate need for Shared Living Providers!

For more information please call: (308) 379-6860

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Retail Stores Improve Efficiency & Customer Experience This summer, we started the implementation of the new point of sale (POS) system at all nine of our retail locations. After a lot of research and discussion, our retail leadership team and Goodwill’s board of directors felt that installing a POS system was crucial for our instore retail growth.

Above: Lacey Bonner, Retail Administrative Assistant teaches The initial plan was to roll-out Lexington store employees how to use the new POS system. the POS system into four store locations in 2021 and complete the remaining five locations in 2022 – but the POS system quickly proved beneficial and it was decided to roll out the POS system to all nine store within a few weeks.

By Lacey Bonner

the items’ price at the register and it greatly speeds up the checkout experience and helps eliminate errors. A large customer facing monitor on the register shows the customers the price of their items as things are rung up and keeps a running total of their purchases.

In addition, we are able to display Round-up messaging and other information we would like to share with our customers.

In the stores, the benefits of the new POS system are felt everywhere. As donations come in they are logged into the system with a description and are tagged with a price tag with a scan code to prevent accidental pricing errors.

Where we see the most impact is with the customers’ experience. At the register, employees can now scan price tags, instead of manually keying in Right: Lexington store employees receive training by Area Manager, Rick Lockard, on how to log donations and create price tags using the POS system.

Community Partnerships

Last spring, when Dave Plond, Executive Director for Boy Scouts of America contacted Goodwill about using our warehouse for a drop site for their popcorn, we were excited and happy to help!

View our 2020 Annual Report Online!

Visit our website: www.goodwillne.org

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After the popcorn was delivered on September 16th, the Boy Scout administrative personnel separated out the popcorn and dispersed the popcorn to the scout leaders.

Be on the look out for your favorite Boy Scout!

Galen Stehlik

Phinney Receives Award

2020 Vision For The Future In May at our Annual Dinner, Galen Stehlik was awarded the 2020 Vision of the Future award for his relationship and long-term commitment to our services. He is truly a friend of Goodwill. Galen connected with Goodwill in the early 1980s and has remained an active supporter ever since. He currently serves on our Goodwill Foundation Board of Directors and he served as our Goodwill Industries Operating Board Chair in 1997.

Prior to his connection with Goodwill, Galen served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve for 8 years. Following graduation from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), he completed his law degree in 1977. Over the years, Galen practiced law locally with several firms until opening his own firm, Stehlik Law Firm, where he currently practices with his son, Mitch.

Galen has been actively involved within the Grand Island community in numerous ways including serving as YMCA Board Chair, a Grand Island Chamber of Commerce Board of Director, the Kaufman Cummings Charitable Board of Trustees, and many others. We are thankful for the time and expertise he has given to our Goodwill.

Ideas For Your Holiday Shopping The holidays will soon be upon us again – store shelves will be stocked, holiday music will be playing and shoppers will be in search of something special for their loved ones.

It can be an expensive time of year. Americans spend over $700 during the holiday season on purchases such as gifts, meals, decorations and postage. Here are some ideas on how to find the perfect gift or holiday decor while at the same time, helping your community!

Shop at Second-Hand & Consignment Stores In-Person or Online!

Second-hand stores, such as a Goodwill store or online at www.ShopGoodwill.com, offer holiday decor, books, collectibles, housewares, clothes, furniture, toys and more that can suit the needs of even your pickiest recipients. Plus, when you shop at Goodwill, you double your benefits.

The money you spend helps support our Goodwill services & programs for community members in need; you’re giving reaches beyond the loved ones on your list.

Love Amazon?

Remember Amazon Smile When you shop at AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon. com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% to a non profit of your choice.

AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon. com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When prompted, select ‘Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska Foundation’.

Out of close to 50 nominations, Jenifer Phinney was selected as a top 3 Nebraska Association of Service Providers DSP award winner for her outstanding work serving people with developmental disabilities.

On September 17th, Jenifer accepted her award in front of her peers and individuals receiving services at our Hastings Developmental Disability Services site.

Congratulations Jenifer!!

Employee of the Quarters Second Quarter:

Rosie Garcia Retail Associate - Lexington

First Quarter:

Becky Wagner Community Support Worker - BHS

Upcoming Events October

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

November

Annual Campaign Kicks off 10 Go Big Lexington (Lexington) 25 Thanksgiving (All locations closed) 26 Black Friday (Service locations closed) 30 Giving Tuesday

December

2 Give Where You Live (Kearney) Various Dates - Holiday Parties 25 Christmas (All locations closed)

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Thank you to our generous sponsors of our Platte River Charity Shoot: Event Sponsor

Event Partner

Golf Cart Sponsor

Volunteer Lunch Sponsor

Scholarship Sponsor

Raffle Sponsor

Raffle Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

In Kind Sponsors & Raffle Item Donors

Station Sponsors: Agricultural Services Bosselman Energy Grand Auto Sales GIX Logistics Home Federal Bank Howard’s Jewelry Ken’s Appliance & America’s Mattress

Adam Marshall Auctioneers Big Bang Defense Boop’s Shooters Supply Chesterman Coca-Cola Construction Rental Deterdings Dunkin Donuts Legacy Outdoor Billboard Miles Lawn & Landscaping

Nebraskaland Distributing Paradise Donuts Prairie Pride Rinder Printing Sportsman’s Warehouse Tractor Supply The Grand Island Independent Venger Tactical Walmart - N. Diers Ave. & South Locust

Platte River Charity Shoot Committee Members: Michelle Fitzke | Sarah Arthur | Tice Forgy | John Lilly | Bill Starkey

SECURING EMPLOYMENT CREATING INDEPENDENCE INSPIRING HOPE SUPPORTING PERSONAL GROWTH 2021 Fall Newsletter

Good Sharing the

PO Box 1863 | Grand Island, NE 68801

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