Goodwill Opens its Doors to Give the Public a Behind-the-Scenes Look
It's National Goodwill Week and the local branch of the organization took the opportunity to showcase the people and the programs that make Goodwill tick.
On Thursday, visitors were invited to Open Houses at Goodwill's offices and Paperworks Studio. Executive Director, Cecil McNally says many people are surprised to learn that there is much more to Goodwill than the retail store and the Goodwill Inn.
Items donated to Goodwill go to many places. Much is sold at the store. Other items go up for sale online. Goodwill optical provides affordable glasses and eye exams.
Goodwill also incorporates outreach programs that provide food, transportation, housing, employment, and support to Northern Michigan families in need.
McNally says Goodwill is one of the nation's largest recyclers. Donated clothes, computers, paper, and other items are all recycled.
Paperworks Studio produces notecards, invitations, and other recycled paper products while providing jobs and skills to people who might otherwise face barriers to employment due to a disability.
In addition to Thursday's Open Houses, Goodwill hosted a series of presentations about homelessness at the Grand Traverse Area Library Thursday night. Goodwill week began with a food drive, which brought in 8,000 pounds of food and other donations.
For more information about Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan, you can visit: www.goodwillnmi.org , www.goodwillinn.org, or http://www.paperworksstudio.com/
