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Top 12 reasons to thrift shop: Number 12, It can be a learning experience.

What gets donated to your local Goodwill? Anything and everything! While shopping, you might find something you didn’t know existed – a real peek into the past you can hold in your hands. Bringing home a vintage rotary telephone, long-lost CD or 70s leisure suit is a great way to reminisce or show your kids or grandkids how life used to be.

Goodwill of the Great Plains to break ground on new Mission Services building

EVENT DATE: Wednesday, June 21, 2023
EVENT TIME: 11:30am
EVENT LOCATION: 3011 W. 4th St., Sioux City, IA
VIDEO & INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – After more than 100 years of serving the greater Siouxland community and beyond, Goodwill of the Great Plains is expanding – and you’re invited to the celebration to see our plans! On June 21, at 11:30am, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce will host a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 25,000-square-foot Mission Services building at 3011 W. 4th St., across from the Goodwill Support Center campus.

Goodwill of the Great Plains’ mission is to serve as an advocate for economic self-sufficiency through employment and education, creating a world of dignity and compassion through the power of work. The new building will help advance that mission as the new home of Goodwill’s Sioux City Job Center and Integrated Day Services, programs to help adults gain more rewarding and independent lives. The space will have a commercial kitchen, lounge, and computer lab.

“The plans for this building try to take as many of the day-to-day activities already happening and grow them, make them easier to get to and include anyone that is interested in learning new things, being physically active and having fun,” said Shawn Fick, Vice President of Mission Advancement at Goodwill of the Great Plains.

The state-of-the-art building will be home to Goodwill’s annual Shoe and Mitten Program and career fairs. It will also be a community center, with a rentable gym and meeting rooms.

“The creation of a welcoming space for community engagement in Goodwill’s mission to change lives is at the heart of this expansion,” said Briget Solomon, CEO of Goodwill of the Great Plains.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Goodwill provides as many individuals as possible an opportunity to achieve their fullest potential and thrive in all aspects of life by engaging community members in workforce development, quality-of-life and support services, which include job training and placement programs, as well as four regional Job Centers, a Career Cruiser and more.

Goodwill’s 21 retail stores fund those mission programs to help improve the lives of others through the power of work.

The new Goodwill of the Great Plains Mission Services Building is expected to open in early 2025.

This community gem has many opportunities for engagement, gifts-in-kind, and sponsorships. For more information, connect with Briget Solomon, Charlotte Nelson or Shawn Fick at 712-258-4511 or via email at marketing@goodwillgreatplains.org.

Preparing for a Phone Interview

By: Phoua Xiong, Job Center Representative

Are you having a phone interview with your dream job but don’t know what to do? We are here to help. Preparing for a phone interview can be hard because you will have to learn how to express your emotion and excitement through your voice.

Step 1: 

Do your homework and still research about the job just as you would for face-to-face interview. Doing your homework will make you sound smarter and more interested about the job.

Step 2:

Make sure you find a quiet spot for the interview. Background noise can be a distracting and can make it hard for both you and the interviewer.

Step 3:

Create yourself a cheat sheet including important notes and have your resume so you can refer too.

Step 4:

Finally, get some good night sleep so you can feel more refresh and alert during the interview.

Phone interview usually don’t take more than 30 minutes.  By knowing how to prepare yourself, you’re able to show the best side of you.

Goodwill of the Great Plains Awarded Grant from Taco Bell

Sioux City, IA (June 1, 2023) – Today, Goodwill of the Great Plains received a grant from the Taco Bell Foundation to support Youth Employment Services. The funds will go toward students working at Goodwill or one of our community partner’s locations to gain valuable work experience.

Goodwill of the Great Plain is one of more than 450+ youth-serving organizations that will receive a portion of the $15 million in Community Grants presented by the Taco Bell Foundation this year. The grants are an example of the Taco Bell Foundation’s mission to break down barriers to education and fuel young people’s boldest ambitions.

“We are proud that the work we do through our Community Grants program connects young people with the resources and opportunities they need to learn and drive change,” said Jennifer Bradbury, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation.

Pictured from left to right are Goodwill participants and Job Coach Brendan, Brian, Fred, Charlie, Tatania and Chris, holding a banner which says, "Thank You Taco Bell Foundation! Goodwill of the Great Plains Youth Employment Services, Sioux City, Iowa."

The banner also features a Taco Bell and Goodwill logo.

Pictured from left to right are Goodwill participant Brendan, Job Coach Brian and participants Fred, Charlie, Tatania and Chris.