Photo caption: Each October, Goodwill Northern New England joins a nationwide effort to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and promote inclusive employment.
Gorham residents searching for bargains or looking to clear their closets and cupboards of unused items are likely familiar with area Goodwill stores. In fact, the town boasts two locations: a store at the Village Mall on Main Street and a Buy the Pound outlet and donation center on Hutcherson Drive. Both are a component of Goodwill Northern New England (Goodwill NNE), an autonomous 501(c)(3) organization serving Maine, New Hampshire and nine northern counties in Vermont.
Headquartered in Gorham since 2014, Goodwill NNE has a multifaceted mission: promoting sustainability through the reuse of donated goods while striving to provide comprehensive support to individuals facing barriers to achieving their work and life goals. Revenue from stores helps fund the organization’s many programs, which center around helping people find and keep good jobs.
In 2017 Goodwill NNE set a 10-year goal to help 10,000 individuals achieve personal stability by providing the tools necessary to overcome barriers and build sustainable futures. Programming efforts focused on a range of workforce development services, from job training and placement to career advancement support. In September the organization celebrated the attainment of its ambitious goal, two years ahead of schedule.
“When we set this big goal, we knew we had to transform our work,” said Trendy Stanchfield, senior vice president of mission services at Goodwill NNE. “We’re grateful for our partners who believed in our vision and helped bring it to life.”
Though the celebration was well deserved, the Goodwill NNE staff know there’s always more to be done to advance the organization’s mission. Most recently Goodwill NNE joined with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy in recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual campaign that takes place each October.
Goodwill NNE commemorated this year’s theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” by highlighting the contributions of several employees, helping raise awareness about disability employment and the importance of building an inclusive, accessible workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute.
“Goodwill NNE is proud to take part in this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” said president & CEO Tripp Harrison. “We want to spread the important message that we value all perspectives, including those of individuals with disabilities.”
To learn more about the good work of Goodwill NNE, visit https://goodwillnne.org/.