GW
A Report to the Community
GOODWILL WORKS Winter 2016
Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is funding two pilot approaches using 14 organizations nationwide that will improve child health and education by breaking the cycle of poverty for families of color. Both approaches help families achieve economic security and stability and provide other education and counsel to aid in child development.
Single mothers with young children such as Yvonne Surls will be the focus of Women 2 Work.
New Goodwill program for Tacoma single mothers Starting in January, Goodwill becomes one of two Northwest participants in a two-year pilot program aimed at helping vulnerable children 8 and under to reach their full potential.
The Goodwill 2-year pilot program will leverage existing job training and placement programs, partnerships with community social services and employers, an $850,000 grant from the Kellogg Foundation, and additional early childhood education and community resources to provide assistance to 140 women of color with young children. The new program – called Women 2 Work will focus in the Tacoma area neighborhoods of Hilltop, Eastside, South End, Lakewood and Spanaway. There is a high concentration of families in Tacoma with kids below poverty level (27% in Tacoma; 32% in Lakewood; and 26-32% in Spanaway). Additionally, 44% of children of color attending regional schools are at/below the federal poverty level compared with 13% of white children.
Yakima/Union Gap store launches new look for Goodwill retail stores The November opening of the Goodwill Yakima/ Union Gap store added 30 more jobs in the local economy. The store also provided a first glimpse at the new store design that will expand across southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula over the next three years. Close on the heels of the new Union Gap look are redesigns at Tacoma’s 38th street, Federal Way’s Pacific Highway location and the Auburn Way store. Goodwill’s new retail venue improves the customer shopping experience by making difficult to display merchandise – one of a kind and unique donations – easier to shop for. Layouts feature more organization and visible non-stacked merchandise. An electronic testing station, easy to read signage, an airy lit atmosphere, and central, spacious fitting rooms complement the effort. Converting cashier locations from multi-line supermarket style checkout to a single serpentine line ensures you don’t end up in the slow lane and entices shoppers with additional merchandise. 1
Revenue from the new Union Gap store funds free job training and job placement in a variety of career fields through Goodwill’s regional Work Opportunity Center in Yakima. In the past year, 435 unemployed residents were provided job training and other education and 227 were placed into area jobs with business partners. 1