Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida

Goodwill has been there for me throughout my college experience and I appreciate how lenient and support everyone has been.

I volunteered for my service learning hours! What a great learning experience!

SWFL's hidden resource gem! Their programs help thousands of people every year!

Working with a fellow non-profit agency, I have observed the team at Goodwill SWFL serving others. They network with local non-profit agencies and leverage their contacts to create support for people needing work, housing, clothing and other services in our area. The teams has used their contacts to help us build an event for students with intellectual and physical disabilities to identify career paths that might interest them, and then Goodwill SWFL provides support to ensure the students can pursue their dreams.

The East County Regional Library in Lehigh Acres has partnered with Goodwill on several occasions to create and host highly successful job fairs. These fairs have served hundreds of people in our community from many different backgrounds and walks of life. Partnering with Goodwill has been a pleasure, and the library looks forward to hosting more job fairs with them so that we can continue to impact the community in positive ways.

I am a disabled man and cannot shop at stores and have a hard time setting doctors appointments. The folks at Goodwill help me with both and assisted me when I was able to work to get employed with a good company.

I used to work in the Ecommerce department taking on multiple roles but mostly doing photography. It was good for a while, and I appreciated how accommodating they were since I'm in college. I'm majoring in Digital design and once the position for graphic design assistant opened up, they quickly thought of me which was amazing, and it's been amazing ever since. My eyes have been opened to opportunities and experiences I've never had. I'm surrounded by the best team, and I appreciate them for considering me for this position.

The work Goodwill SWFL does for the local community is crucial for the growth of low-moderate income individuals and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in SWFL. Goodwill's programs are focused on upskilling clients so that they can thrive and support each other. I highly recommend looking past false rumors and getting to know Goodwill SWFL and their impact!

Pathways to Opportunity, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida's Life Skills Development 3 program, maintains the highest level of care and compassion to those served. They insure a person-centered environment is maintained and treat each individual with dignity, respect, and honor choices.
As a team member of a few "shared consumers" PTO ensures the team is aware of any and all issues or potential problems. Communication is top notch.
High recommend this program. Staff is easy to work with, very knowledgeable, and maintain high standards of service.

The best non profit for people with disabilities I have ever found. My cousin started there last November. He has made friends that he now communicates with daily. He loves the teachers and the courses they offer. PTO has opened his world and life like nothing before. For the first time he is living his life to the fullest. I support this non profit and if you can have your loved one entered into their program consider yourself very fortunate. Please support them with a donation if you can.

I have worked for Goodwill Industries since December 1999 in many capacities. Job Coach, Benefits Planner and running a Job-Link Center. Most recently working in Rapid Rehousing. I have enjoyed all my years with this organization, they have always been like family to me. The programs our Goodwill offers include our school, "Pathways to Opportunity", Our Career Resource Centers that assist with employment as well as food stamps, housing applications and food pantries. We also assist with discounted internet (ACP) as well as IHEAP and SSA. Along with our stores our Goodwill as proven to be a wonderful community resource.

The stores have great finds, and the resource centers offer more services and computer training opportunities than one would guess.

I thank Goodwill Industries of SWFL for allowing me to join this organization. The services offered to the community help greatly to develop it, such as job search, digital classes that are essential in these times, ESL classes, preparation for the citizenship exam for those who need it, help with the internet with the Accessible Connectivity Program (ACP), among other services. Goodwill Industries is one of the non-profit agencies that encourages our community to develop significantly.
I highly recommend Goodwill Industries to people.

I will always appreciate the opportunity that Goodwill Industries of SWFL offers me. The variety of services available to communities, job search help, their new case management method known as Opportunity Accelerator that allows them to see areas where help is needed, help with the internet with the Accessible Connectivity Program (ACP), its digital classes, ESL class, citizenship classes for those who need it, among other services. All this makes it one of the most complete non-profit agencies in the area.
If you ask me if I recommend Goodwill Industries to people, it's a yes.

I am an employment consultant with Goodwill Industries, I assist clients that need assistance with finding and maintaining employment, some clients have works skills, some have never worked or have not been in the work field in many many years, Everyone that wants to work should have that chance, and that opportunity, and the ones that want this are very eager, and always give it their all, I speak with employers and try to show them hiring my clients is a benefit for them, and they don't just get my client, they also get me.

I enjoy my job this is why I have worked here for almost eleven years. Helping others is both rewarding and a gift.

Goodwill SWFL has great employees and offers tremendous opportunities.

My brother moved from NY to SWFL recently, and hadn't had to apply for a job in a long time. I sent him to the Goodwill Community Resource Center. They helped him update his resume, set up an application profile online with Indeed, and showed him how to navigate online. The next day, he spent all day applying and answering companies interested. He already has three interviews set-up for this week. Thank you Goodwill for the help and encouragement.

I learned that the Community Resource Center, located at the Goodwill store in Cape Coral, could help me, as well as the rest of the community. I work for Goodwill, and when my landlord lost his house and I was forced to move, I felt desperate. I did not want to become a homeless person. I visited the center and Marjorie made me aware of a special home voucher named Mainstream that the city of Fort Myers has and that I may qualify to apply. She helped me with the application and referral, and I was able to send all the required documents via fax. I was also able to use a computer to obtain other documents that I did not have, and in the end I obtained the voucher. I moved in, and I am very happy and grateful that I did not end up on the street. Thanks to Goodwill and Marjorie, the center coordinator.

For a whole year I tried to get a telephone through the help of the government. It took me a whole year to fix the problem I had with unemployment and several months fighting to be able to continue receiving of medical assistance. I solved all this inconvenience with the help of the Community Resource Center in Cape Coral. Marjorie, the Center Coordinator, guided me and helped me get organized in the process. Then, in just one day, I got the free phone that I needed. Marjorie helped me to contact all the agencies I needed to contact. I also signed up for the Digital Program that Goodwill has available. I hope I can learn to use technology and that way have a better chance to get a job to provide the income I need to survive. I thank Goodwill and Marjorie for the immense help they gave me. - C.A./visitor at Cape Coral Community Resource Center

Often times the good work a non profit does becomes overshadowed with the high salaries of the leadership team vs. the low salaries of the employees. For instance this good will president make over 240,000.00 per year or near $5,000.00 per week when the average full time goodwill employee makes $325.00. That one president salary could employee 15 full time employees. This is the real purpose of charity 15 is far better than one.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is a true asset to our communities. Not only are we able to recycle our stuff (we love being "green"), but we know that the profits go to help others around us.

I shop at all the thrift stores in the area and when I travel my Sienna is programed to stop at all Goodwill stores.

Goodwill is always my favorite thrift store. The prices are fair; they give discounts to seniors one day a week and now they are having days when everything in all the stores is 50% off. (On these days, I start early and shop til I drop!)

I like Goodwill because their employees know how to use a cash register. In so many thrift stores the employees add everything in their heads and then give me a price. I do not like this method.

I like Goodwill because their employees are friendly and recognize me when I come into the stores. They smile and joke yet they are efficient and honest.

I like Goodwill because, unlike some thrift stores, the prices are fair and set and I do not have to haggle. I do not like to haggle.

I like Goodwill because they have nice bags to put my purchases in and they have push carts to put my heavy purse and purchases in.

I like Goodwill because they organize their clothes by color and often by size.

I like Goodwill because sometimes I can find a real treasure that is cheap. I am always on the look out for these!

I like Goodwill because I am a decorator and have found some real great things to use in my homes.

I like Goodwill because it is exciting to go in any store. I rarely know what I am looking for when I enter, but I always find so many things to purchase. I usually walk out with a cart load of treasures that I was not expecting.

I like Goodwill because they have big stores and people are not crowded and bumping into each other (except on those 50% off days).

I like Goodwill because they have employees who will help me get large purchases into my Sienna.

Every trip to Goodwill is an adventure.

And because I like Goodwill so much, I always give my donations to them.

I have been a customer and a contributor to Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida for as far back as I can remember. When I or my husband are discarding used clothing, shoes, housewares, etc. we load up my car and I take it to a charity. Most of the time it is to Goodwill. The employees at the Goodwill stores and drop-off sites are very helpful. They are polite and knowledgeable. I have also been a customer because I love to shop and I love a bargain. I have found many "treasures" for myself and for my grandchildren especially. I love the fact that Goodwill employes people who might otherwise be turned away from a job opportunity. This is an excellent practice for the people they employee and for the organization.
I am a fan of Goodwill and will continue my relationship with their stores in the future. They are good for our community and it is my pleasure to support their efforts.

I've been on disability for years and was turned on to GW by the Dept of Voacational Rehab. I started volunteering in the public relations dept and was soon hired. I am limited in the amount of hours I can work and they totally work with me on that. I decided to change jobs and they placed me in another job at shopgoodwill.com. Its great........I have a great boss who helps out when needed. I know so many success stories from people who work there. Its a great organization.

Goodwill does so many great things for SW Florida, it can't be put into words. I volunteer all the time for the organization, including their massively successful Festival of Trees event every Christmas season.

All of these services and the stores provide so many wonderful success stories for our area. It's a wonderful thing to volunteer my time to such a great non-profit.

With another New Year here, instead of thinking of the things you should give up, think about how you can give back. It's a much more rewarding way to add fulfillment to your life.