Goodwill Manasota invites shoppers and donors to the Re-Grand/Re-Brand Opening celebration of the Goodwill Rialto store on Friday, Feb. 14 at 9 a.m. There will be refreshments, giveaways and a 14 percent discount on every purchase made that day.
“The Goodwill Rialto re-branding is part of an over-all rebranding effort by Goodwill Manasota to better convey our mission,” said Bob Rosinsky, president & CEO of Goodwill Manasota. “And in the process, we also created a more fun shopping environment.”
Goodwill’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for individuals, families and the community by providing career services to those with barriers to employment as well as creating a more sustainable environment. Through its JobsPlus program, Goodwill offers employment opportunities to people with barriers to success and helps individuals with employment barriers learn traditional workplace behaviors and skills while earning a paycheck through a variety of job opportunities at Goodwill.
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The Supported JobsPlus program assists those with disabilities and other obstacles and conditions reach their full potential by becoming self-sufficient and independent through access to education, training and employment. With individual assessments, skills training, job placement services, job retention services and employment at Goodwill, the program features workplace accommodations and access to GoodPartner Coaches who provide employment, family and personal coaching. Supported JobsPlus Team Members are seamlessly integrated into the stores, where they learn positive workplace behaviors while earning a paycheck.
One such employee who stands out at the Rialto location is Douglass Johnson. He is legally blind and brain injured, but does not let those traits define him. Although his sight is extremely limited, his other senses are heightened; in fact, his sense of touch is so precise that he has set the bar for fellow employees at Goodwill Manasota, where he has worked for 11 years.
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After moving to Florida and having a difficult time finding employment, Johnson heard about a position opening at Goodwill as a clothes hanger, and decided to apply. “The job description was to hang clothes, which may at first seem impossible for someone who is legally blind, but because he was able to find tears and feel where buttons were missing, that other employees might miss, he became one of the fastest hangers, setting a record at 135 pieces per hour,” he said.
Johnson credits part of his success to being able to wear headphones streaming his favorite music to help him concentrate. Now, he’s moved up to a sales associate position in which he greets customers, socializes and helps them find what they are looking for.
“I work part-time 5 days a week at Goodwill, and enjoy every moment of it. I don’t have to sit at home twiddling my thumbs,” he said. To read more about Doug’s story, find the full article here.
When you SHOP at a Goodwill store or DONATE your items, you help provide JOBS. In 2013, Goodwill served more than 16,000 people and helped 537 people find employment. We also diverted more than 37 million pounds from the landfill.
RIALTO EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Friday, Feb. 14
Time: Beginning at 9 a.m.
Venue: Goodwill Rialto – 676 S Tamiami Trail, Venice
Store hours: Monday to Saturday from 9am – 8pm, Sunday from 10am – 6pm
About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that changes lives through the power of work. We accomplish our mission through a network of Good Neighbor Centers in Sarasota, Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties and our Mission Development Services (MDS) around North America. For more than 110 years, Goodwill has provided opportunities through such programs as Donated Goods Employment Services, Job Connection, American Veterans & their Families Initiative, JobsPlus, Supported JobsPlus, GoodwillWorks, HomeBuyer’s Club, Mission Development Services, White Glove Services, Good Neighbor Program and Ambassadors Program. Goodwill continues to assist people with disabilities and barriers to opportunity by changing lives through the power of work. Goodwill Manasota, Inc. is legally organized under the laws of the United States and the State of Florida. We are accountable to a local Board of Directors. Goodwill Manasota in essence belongs to this community, and is NOT owned by any individual or company. For more information, visit EXPERIENCEGOODWILL.ORG.
