From May 6–12, Goodwill of Western & Northern Connecticut is joining Goodwill agencies across the United States and Canada to celebrate Goodwill Industries Week and to thank the public for its generous support and to raise public awareness about the services Goodwill provides to help people with disabilities and disadvantages reach their fullest potential. This celebration reflects on how the nonprofit has grown with the times to develop a multitude of programs to help people in our local communities become financially independent and live rich, full lives.

Goodwill of Western & Northern Connecticut serves six counties and 104 towns in the State of Connecticut. Today, in addition to the corporate office in Bridgeport which includes business offices, human services offices, a multitude of programs, a career center, a donation center and a store, Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut operates 15 stores, 16 attended donation stations and has additional employment services offices and programs in Greenwich, Hartford and Danielson.

In 2011, Goodwill of Western & Northern Connecticut helped 15,524 individuals. Employment programs placed 431 people facing vocational challenges into competitive community employment. Currently Goodwill Acquired Brain Injury program is providing intensive services to 69 individuals throughout the state and programs for youth are also growing.

Goodwill also steps in to help meet critical community needs when necessary, providing summer camperships, backpacks and school supplies to elementary students, Thanksgiving meals and  Christmas gifts to those in the community who  need it most. In addition, Goodwill now runs career centers where anyone can walk in and receive help with finding a job. Collectively these career centers are helping 50 to 60 people a month find jobs.

Goodwill stores, supported by generous donations from the community, provide low cost merchandise for people on a tight budget and those looking for bargains. Store proceeds support Goodwill programs. The stores also provide jobs and job training for some of the individuals in Goodwill programs. For more information, go to www.gwct.org or call 1-800-423-9787.