2023 Goodwill of CENTRAL IOWA ANNUAL REPORT
FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Dear Members of the Goodwill of Central Iowa Community,
As we present our 2023 Annual Report, I am honored to address you as the Board Chair of an organization that is not only dedicated to transforming lives, but also deeply embedded in the fabric of our community. Goodwill of Central Iowa has continued to uphold and advance its mission, creating tangible and significant impacts on the lives of Central Iowans.
Our mission programs, including Day Services, Skills Training, and Supported Employment, are at the very heart of what we do. This past year, we have seen remarkable progress and successes that underscore the importance of our work. These programs provide crucial support and opportunities for personal growth, empowerment, and employment, fostering a sense of purpose and community among our participants.
Day Services has become a cornerstone of support for individuals with disabilities, providing them with the resources and encouragement needed to navigate daily life with greater independence and confidence. Through tailored assistance and community engagement, participants have achieved milestones that were once thought unattainable.
The Skills Training Programs have been instrumental in preparing individuals for the workforce, breaking down barriers to employment, and offering pathways to sustainable careers. By equipping participants with the necessary skills and certifications, we are opening doors to new opportunities and brighter futures. The ripple effect of these achievements can be felt throughout our community, as individuals gain steady employment and contribute their talents and skills.
Supported Employment has fostered invaluable partnerships with local businesses, ensuring that those facing barriers to employment receive the ongoing support they need to be successful on every shift. These collaborations have not only transformed the lives of our clients, but have also enriched our workplaces and community through diversity and inclusion.
As Board Chair, I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside dedicated and passionate individuals who share a common vision of empowerment and community enhancement. The commitment demonstrated by the Goodwill of Central Iowa staff, partners, and supporters is truly inspiring and fundamental to our continued success.
On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I extend my deepest appreciation to everyone who has contributed to our mission. Your support fuels our ability to create positive, lasting change in the lives of so many. We are excited to continue building on this momentum and expanding our impact in the years to come.
Thank you for believing in Goodwill of Central Iowa and for being an integral part of our mission to make purposeful employment possible for all central Iowans.
With sincere gratitude,
Libby Jacobs
Libby Jacobs
2023 Chairman of The Board
FROM THE PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we reflect on the progress and accomplishments of 2023, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the unwavering support from our community, partners, and dedicated team members. Together, we have strengthened our commitment to providing life-changing opportunities through our mission programs: Day Services, Skills Training, and Supported Employment.
Our Day Services Program has continued to be a beacon of hope and empowerment for individuals with disabilities. Through personalized support and community integration, participants have experienced significant personal growth and independence. Witnessing their achievements reaffirms our belief in creating inclusive spaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Skills Training remains at the heart of our mission, equipping individuals with the tools they need to succeed in today's dynamic job market. The success stories of those who have transitioned into gainful employment following the successful gradiation from our Skills Training Programs underscore the importance of our continued investment in these essential offerings.
Supported Employment has been a cornerstone of our efforts to provide sustainable employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers to work. By partnering with local businesses, we have created an environment where our clients can receive the ongoing support they need to excel in their roles. The transformative impact of meaningful employment on personal and family well-being is truly inspiring.
These programs are only possible because of the generosity of our supporters, the hard work of our staff, and the resilience of those we serve. As we look forward to the future, we remain committed to innovating and expanding our services to meet the evolving needs of our community. Together, we are building a brighter, more inclusive central Iowa.
Thank you for your continued support and belief in the mission of Goodwill of Central Iowa to make purposeful employment possible for all. We look forward to another year of growth, empowerment, and success.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Mary
Mary Hunter
President & CEO
At Goodwill, we are a collective of individuals each possessing unique stories, backgrounds, experiences, and strengths. We believe everyone is worthy and capable of great things when treated with love, kindness, and respect.
Together, we work side-by-side to inspire confidence, strengthen abilities, and redefine what inclusion can look like in the workplace and in our community. By celebrating our differences and encouraging diversity at all levels of our organization, we are changing lives in central Iowa and making purposeful employment possible for all – no matter what.
UPHOLDING A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
Goodwill of Central Iowa has proudly maintained CARF Accreditation since 1997, symbolizing the dedicated to quality and effectiveness of the services offered to central Iowans through our mission programs.
The CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) certification is essential to a nonprofit organization that provides rehabilitation or disability services. The certification provides a seal of approval that signifies the organization has met the highest standards in quality, safety, and effectiveness of the services it offers. This recognition is crucial to attracting funding, referrals, and other support from key stakeholders, including government agencies, insurance companies, and donors.
Our Day Services Program combines community integration with developing independence as our dedicated Life Instructors help participants with mental or physical disabilities navigate emotional regulation, effective communication, and teamwork.
We provide a nurturing environment that instills a sense of purpose, allowing individuals to develop a strong belief in their own potential. We understand the significance of building self-confidence and its role in supporting appropriate self-advocacy.
A DAY WITH SADIE
Sadie came to Goodwill of Central Iowa in search of a supportive program dedicated to fostering a sense of community and developing confidence in individuals with mental and physical disabilities. Sadie was soon matched with a Care Team that helped her enroll in Goodwill’s Day Services Program, a CARF Accredited initiative focused on developing essential life skills such as safety, self-advocacy, emotional management, teamwork, communication, and appropriate social interactions within the community.
Upon entering the program, safety was identified as an area Sadie needed to focus on. Her Goodwill Care Team concentrated on emphasizing the importance of safety in daily activities. Since joining the Day Services program, Sadie now takes charge during safety drills, guiding fellow participants with confidence, helping to foster a safer environment for everyone.
Sadie’s thoughtfulness extends beyond safety, alone. She frequently writes heartfelt notes to her friends and their families, making them feel valued and included. She also actively gives back to her community by volunteering at Meals From The Heartland and enthusiastically participating in the Iowa State Cyclones’ Sparkle Squad.
Sadie’s leadership and positive energy have made her a cherished member of the Day Services Program by her peers and the Goodwill Care Team.
“When Sadie isn’t here, the vibe of the entire group changes,” said Bre Holland, a Life Instructor at Goodwill of Central Iowa. “She brings a sense of energy and inclusion to everyone in the room.”
Sadie’s family further attests to her continued development while enrolled in the Day Services Program. They report noticing an improvement in Sadie’s communication skills, stating she is overall more conversational and initiates verbal exchanges with others more readily. She is also less anxious around crowds and loud noises, thanks to daily outings with her Day Services Group.
Overall, Sadie is more comfortable and confident in new situations, has a better understanding of the importance of safety and being aware of her surroundings, and has been able to show her genuine love and affection to the people she cares about.
Sadie’s journey within Goodwill of Central Iowa’s Day Services Program showcases the profound impact one person can make on those around them.
The training program combines classroom instruction and paid, hands-on training allowing participants to earn while they learn and apply those skills in a real-world setting. Candidates can choose where to focus: warehouse or retail skills.
In the classroom, trainees gain a solid understanding of applicable workplace skills including communication, teamwork, safety and professionalism from the RISE UP curriculum, written by the National Retail Federation (NRF). Program participants have the opportunity to test for RISE UP Certification, a nationally recognized certification.
CHANGING LIVES
You may know Goodwill as a convenient place to shop for your growing family. Maybe it’s a store you enjoy searching for unexpected treasures to thrift. Or perhaps you think of Goodwill each time you have gently-used items you no longer need. You are not alone. This is what usually comes to mind whenever someone
mentions Goodwill.
But the story often overlooked is that Goodwill of Central Iowa is rooted in the foundation of providing a hand up to individuals facing barriers to securing employment.
Although barriers look different for everyone, they can include a range of challenges like unreliable transportation, no prior employment experience, socio-economic inequalities, intellectual disabilities, or a mental health diagnosis. For some, multiple barriers may be faced at once.
After years of teaching in public schools, being a part of the Goodwill of Central Iowa team has become a passion for Monica McClelland Cheers. As a Skills Trainer, Monica teaches the basics of retail operations to program participants. However, the lessons explored throughout Goodwill’s Retail Skills Training Program go far beyond clothing racks and color-coded price tags.
“The Skills Training Program, in practice, is much different than it appears on paper,” explains Monica. “The biggest skill we are teaching through our program is confidence.”
Following the mission of “Making purposeful employment possible for all” by breaking down barriers and redefining inclusion in the workplace, Goodwill Skills Trainers like Monica are fostering the power of confidence; the confidence to learn, to grow, and to speak up. Sometimes, that confidence is seen through a participant’s ability to meet a gaze eye-to-eye for the first time in a long time. Other times, it presents the ability to laugh, tell a joke, offer encouragement to a classmate, or form an unexpected friendship.
“We recently had a participant join the program after he was brought to us by a group of advocates,” said Monica. She went on to explain how the participant was unwilling to make eye contact, was incredibly unsure of himself, and had, over time, lost the willingness to interact with those around him. Within the first few days of being involved in the Retail Skills Training Program, she noted a momentous change in his demeanor.
“He opened up. He walked into the room with a big smile, greeted his classmates, and was excited to know what material we were going to be covering that day,” explained Monica. “He was a completely different person than who I had been introduced to initially.”
By working with a network of dedicated individuals within the Goodwill organization, participants gain resources, connections, and the skills to not only graduate from the program, but to progress toward greater independence through purposeful employment.
Within our Supported Employment Programs, our staff help individuals find purposeful employment that fits their interests and needs. We provide dedicated, on-site support throughout the job application process and one-on-one coaching assistance to ensure success on every shift.
Job DevelopMENT
In our Job Development Program, individuals work closely with a dedicated Goodwill Career Specialist to bring their career goals to life. Together, they’ll strengthen the program participant’s resume and seek out positions that will celebrate skills, interests and needs. In addition, program participants will work with their Career Specialist to prepare for, and confidently complete, a job interview.
Job COACHING
As soon as an individual is hired, they have the opportunity to work with a Goodwill Job Coach. Job Coaches provide on-site, day-to-day assistance as individuals learn new tasks and work toward goals. Job Coaches will bridge communication gaps and help foster bonds with managers and staff to encourage ongoing success in the workplace.
Goodwill of Central Iowa is a prominent example of a social enterprise; an organization that uses business strategies to achieve social, cultural, community, or environmental objectives.
As a social enterprise, Goodwill of Central Iowa generates revenue through its network of retail stores. Donations of gently used items such as clothing, furniture, electronics, and household goods are accepted at 13 central Iowa locations, which are then sold in 13 area thrift stores and one Outlet location. The revenue from these sales is reinvested into the organization to make mission-driven programs possible.
Learn more about Goodwill of Central Iowa’s social enterprise structure by visiting here.
By promoting the donation, reuse, and recycling of goods, Goodwill of Central Iowa plays a key role in the environmental sustainability of our community. We work to reduce waste by giving new life to items that might otherwise end up in landfills, promoting a circular economy.
18,857,913
POUNDS OF GENTLY-USED ITEMS DIVERTED FROM LOCAL LANDFILLS IN 2023
81%
PERCENTAGE OF DONATIONS GIVEN A SECOND LIFE THROUGH RESELLING, RECYCLING & SALVAGING
5,982,520
POUNDS OF TEXTILES SALVAGED
881,600
POUNDS OF BOOKS SALVAGED
At Goodwill of Central Iowa, we understand it can be difficult to focus on work when you may be facing barriers such as food insecurity, lack of childcare, or financial hardships. As an organization, we want our employees to be successful and fulfilled both at home and in the workplace. Therefore, we have developed a new position dedicated to helping employees find the resources they need in a discreet and confidential manner.
98
gci food pantry requests fulfilled since march to december 2023
301
individuals served by gci food pantry requests in 2023
resources
- food insecurity
- shelter
- transportation
- financial resources
- child/dependent care
- health care coverage
- mental/physical health
- substance use
- legal issues
- education
- work issues
Polk County Board of Supervisors
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Prairie Meadows
Rotary Club of Des Moines
Banker's Trust
The Community Foundation
Rebecca Banzhaf
Judith Boes
Nataliya Boychenko Stone
Kathy Bravard
James & Jolene Brown
Scott Casady
Dana Charland
Chelcee Cheers
Teresa Cheers
Carol Chesmore
Kila Christensen
Rebecca Cloud
Kevin & Sally Crowley
Steve Davis
Terri Dermody
Scott Doup
Donald Edds
Bart Emary
William Emary
Clifford Findlay
Darrell Gilbert
Dwight Gilbride
Connie Gordon
Jolene Hanson
Mary Hunter
Dan Jaynes
Kurt & Janice Johnson
David Jones
Barbara Klubal
Denise Krakowski
Stephen & Sharon Marlow
Brent Mealey
Mary Katherine Nelson
Joel Olah
Jimmy Olsen
Nicholas Otis
Dennis & Mary Paup
Joel & Amy Pearson
James Pifer
Marcia Pitcock
Joe & Kara Pollpeter
Martin & Roxanne Rathje
Susan Rathjen
Warren Reyerson
Jose Rivas-Ruiz
Rachel Rolfes
Tim & Therese Rolfes
Clarice Rubek
Scott Rutledge
Andy Schroeder
John Schumacher
Christopher Schutt
Kevin Schutt
Constance Schwarz
Paula Sevenbergen
Kayla Siemsglusz
Michael Smith
Tara Stasi
Jesse Steinback
Emmett Stevermer
Gregory Stieber
Jane Stout
Brent Strauch
Jeffrey Stroud
Joe Stasi
Jan Svec
Bridget & Brian Tancos
Jana Tanner
Howard Thompson
Genelle Truitt
Antonio Tuazon
Robert Van Dyke
Kevin Vidergar
Jane Vielma
Josh Vogeler
Diana Weishaar
Kelly Wellington
Gabe Wilson
Steve & Lacinda Wilson
Josh Wright
Patricia Yetmar
