Category: Mission

Goodwill to expand VR thanks to $25,000 MRHD grant

A group of Goodwill employees, including (from L to R) Jeff Johnson, Mitchell Kulawik and Vilay Keokenchanh, hold a large novelty check for $25,000, awarded by Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD) to Goodwill of the Great Plains during a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 23rd inside Encore Hall at Sioux City's Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

MRHD grant will help underserved youth

Goodwill of the Great Plains will soon be leasing several Transfr VR Goggle headsets and the software needed to run them, thanks to a generous grant from Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD).

Goodwill was awarded a $25,000 MRHD Impact Match Grant, one of nine given out during a ceremony on Thursday morning, Oct. 23rd, inside Sioux City’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

This virtual reality technology creates immersive career exploration opportunities for underserved youth, allowing them to experience in-depth job simulations for high-demand careers.

The money will also help purchase 8 laptops, 6 iPads and a scanner; Goodwill will provide $6,399 toward the purchase.

A total of $1.25 million in grants were given out during the ceremony, ranging from $25,000 – $250.000.

MRHD has invested more than $58 million into Woodbury Co. and surrounding areas since 1994.

Digital Career Accelerator – Training at No Cost

Whether you want to improve your earnings, enter a new field or become more productive at work or home, Digital Career Accelerator training can help!

What You’ll Learn:

  • How to use a computer and navigate the internet
  • Email basics and online safety
  • Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • How to leverage Artificial Intelligence to boost your productivity at home and at work

Program Details:

  • Flexible: Personalized learning ensures you learn on your own schedule
  • Accountability: You will be assigned to a Goodwill Case Manager who can help you build upon what you are learning
  • Cost: FREE!

Who Should Join?

  • Adults re-entering the workforce
  • Seniors and beginners with little to no computer experience
  • Anyone looking to up-skill their digital knowledge  

You can now get Digital Career Accelerator training at no cost to you. Fill out this form to get started: www.goodwillgreatplains.org/dca/

    2024 – A Year of Good

    A look back at what we accomplished together in 2024

    Thanks to your generous support, Goodwill of the Great Plains made a difference in more than 32,000 lives in 2024 – helping hundreds of people get jobs, changing thousands of lives and diverting millions of pounds from landfills.

    Take a deeper dive into those numbers below:

    A look at how Goodwill of the Great Plains positively impacted the communities it serves in 2024 - showing various statistics and numbers related to programming, pounds of material diverted from landfills, pounds of material recycled and more.

    Together, we were able to do a lot of GOOD!

    To find out more about the programs and services offered by Goodwill of the Great Plains, please visit goodwillgreatplains.org

    Goodwill awarded $50,000 Missouri River Historical Development grant to help cover Mission Services Center construction costs

    Goodwill was one of 26 organizations to receive grant money

    Goodwill of the Great Plains was awarded a $50,000 Missouri River Historical Development Impact Match Grant during a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 24th at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City.

    The money will go toward the construction of Goodwill’s new Mission Services Center, a more than 20,000-sq-ft, state-of-the-art net zero building.

    The first-of-its-kind in the area, the new building will use solar panels and geothermal heating and cooling technology and be the new home of Goodwill’s Sioux City Job Center and Integrated Day Services, both programs that help adults gain more rewarding and independent lives.

    The Mission Services Center is currently being built across the street from Goodwill’s main Support Center on W. 4th St. in Sioux City.

    During the ceremony, Missouri River Historical Development awarded grants to 26 organizations, totaling $1.25 million, narrowed down from a list of 44 applicants.