Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Columbia-Willamette Goodwill

Patch learns about the work that the Columbia-Willamette Goodwill does in the Oregon community.

Patch: Tell Patch a little about you and your organization!

Goodwill: A registered 501 3 C nonprofit Goodwill Industries of the Columbia-Willamette provides free job services and job training to people in NW OR, SW WA and Central OR with barriers such as language difficulties, incomplete education, broken work histories or various physical disabilities. In 2015, GICW provided more than 530,000 services to people with barriers to employment through programs such as Job Connection, Career Center, Employee Career Enhancement, ESL and Long Term Services.

Patch: How does your organization help to strengthen the local community?

Goodwill: We integrate people with barriers to employment into our workforce of more than 2,800 persons and to generate funding for free vocational programs in more than 20 counties.

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Patch: When did you open?

Goodwill: 1927

Patch: What is the biggest struggle your organization faces?

Goodwill: Educating people about our free programs.

Patch: What do you hope for the future of your nonprofit?

Goodwill: To serve many more thousands who need free job services.

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