May 2, 2024
North Louisiana – Everyone has heard of Goodwill and knows the thrift stores, but many do not understand why the stores exist. During the month of May, Goodwill focuses our efforts to better educating the community on its mission and how it takes many individuals to make Goodwill Industries’ mission succeed: employees, board members, donors, shoppers, clients, students and community partners. Each one is necessary and vital to help Goodwill run smooth and effectively.
Goodwill has a whole month of activities planned including Campus Cleanout Events, an Annual Luncheon highlighting the 2023 outcomes, and a large Community-Wide Job Fair.
The month began yesterday at Grambling State University with our first Campus Cleanout Event where students and faculty lighten their loads as they moved out of the dorms and classrooms for the summer. As part of Goodwill Month, the following future Campus Cleanout Events are planned:
May 7th at University of Louisiana Monroe, 10 am to 3 pm
May 8th at Northwestern State University, 10 am to 3 pm
May 10th Louisiana State University at Alexandria, 10 am to 3 pm
May 17th Southern University at Shreveport, 9 am to 1 pm
May 30th Louisiana State University at Shreveport, 10 am to 2 pm
In addition to the Campus Cleanout Events, Goodwill will be hosting its 98th Community Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 16th. During the event, several business and community leader volunteers will be honored and recognized for their role in helping our mission be successful. Former Chicago Cub, Chris Singleton will be the featured keynote speaker at the event.
This year’s businesses and individual honorees includes: Parish of Caddo, Care Free Janitorial, Johnny’s Pizza House, Healthy Blue, Freedom Church – Benny Walker Helping Hands Ministry, Highland Ministries, Ms. Vita Riner, Ms. Penny Butler, Mr. Danzel London, and Mr. Jaron Gray.
2023 Highlights includes:
- Providing job placement and training services to 2,525 individuals
- Placing 416 individuals into employment earning an average wage in excess of $12.28/hour
- Providing 397 employers with employees
- Graduating 29 youth and adults from HiSET/GED classes
- Provided employees to 343 unique employers
- Helped 9 individuals obtain post secondary credentials, including CDL’s and forlift.
- Saving more than 7,354,704 pounds of donated goods from landfills
- Providing an Economic Impact of $9,962,536 to North Louisiana
Individual tickets can still be purchased online through Tuesday, May 14th, 2024 at 2024 Annual Awards Luncheon Sponsorship Opportunities – Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana, Inc. (goodwillnla.org). Individual Tickets are $75/person, and table and sponsorships are also available.
Finally, on Wednesday, May 22nd, Goodwill will be teaming up with multiple companies to host a large onsite Job Fair at its newly renovated Job Center, located at 800 West 70th Street, Shreveport. More than 15 companies have already committed to be onsite during the event. The event is free and open to the public from 10am to 1pm; no appointments are necessary. If you are interested in participating in the Job Fair, please contact Darlene Robinson at 318-629-5925.
