At the invitation of Mary Mendenhall-Core, director of development at Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa (www.dmgoodwill.org), I had the opportunity to tour the organization’s headquarters at 4900 N.E. 22nd St. This was the result of a conversation in which I said, “I am familiar with Goodwill retail stores, but I don’t know anything else about the organization.”

After the tour, I decided to spread the word in case there are others who are unaware of the numerous ways Goodwill is positively contributing to our community. There is no doubt about the value provided by the Goodwill stores. For every high-quality, low-priced product purchased at a Goodwill store, a new product does not have to be created. But Goodwill is so much more than retail stores.

Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa is one of 207 regional Goodwill organizations throughout North America and around the world and has been serving Central Iowa since 1955. The local organization currently serves 22 Iowa counties and operates 17 retail stores. Its primary goal is to help people with disabilities and other barriers to employment gain independence and become more fully contributing members of society.

Goodwill also emphasizes being “green.” During 2010, the organization recycled more than 20 million pounds of materials – such as clothing, computers and books – that otherwise would have gone to the landfill.

Here are some ways Goodwill added value to our communities in 2010:

• It served 1,145 individuals with disabilities or other barriers to employment, 183 of whom were placed in jobs.

• Grant funding was received for a third year under the Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. This grant allowed Goodwill to provide training and placement services to 147 homeless veterans within Polk and Dallas counties in 2010.

• Projects with Industries (PWI) was funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This grant allows Goodwill to serve people ages 16-24 who have disabilities and need help transitioning from school to employment. Goodwill expects to serve at least 517 young people through its PWI program during the five-year grant period.

• Through the Workforce Experience Program, individuals who are vocationally disadvantaged are provided training in food service, janitorial, contract assembly and light manufacturing work.

• Overall retail sales set a record, providing more families with goods and clothing that they might not otherwise be able to afford.

In 2011, please support the good in Goodwill Industries by shopping, donating goods, hiring a graduate, volunteering time or making a financial contribution. I know I will.

Jann Freed (freedj@central.edu) holds the Mark and Kay De Cook Endowed Chair in Leadership and Character Development at Central College in Pella.