by Valerie Clark
Public Relations Specialist, Goodwill Duluth
vclark@goodwillduluth.org
Jared Baukner, 26, recently became the proud owner of a condo and a cat, and he credits support from Goodwill for helping him to achieve a new level of stability in his life.
Goodwill’s placement services helped Jared to secure a job at the Fond du Luth Casino’s janitorial crew. Follow-up services provided by his job coaches gave him the workplace tools he needed to succeed.
“When I started out here I didn’t have anything,” says Jared, who has attention deficit disorder and has had trouble finding work in the past. “Then as the years went on, they’ve helped me with getting to know the job itself; how to perform on the job. They’ve helped me develop speed and accuracy.”
Three years ago, Jared was able to buy a house thanks to his steady employment. A few months ago, he adopted a cat, Maple.
“Without my family’s help and Goodwill’s help, that would not be possible,” Jared says.
He first came to Goodwill in 2006, facing a job search that was hurt by a lack of work history.
“I had no background, no nothing,” he says. “I was signed up for Goodwill. From then on I just started to develop my job skills.”
Jared worked at the mall before getting his job at the casino. Goodwill’s support has helped him to thrive at work, he says.
In his free time, Jared enjoys hanging out at home with his cat.
Shoppers earn discounts and support job programs by donating used goods during the semi- annual spring event
Goodwill – Duluth and Younkers/Herbergers are encouraging shoppers to donate and save during the semi-annual Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale, which starts this Wednesday, March 13 and runs through March 30. Throughout the sale, Younkers and Herbergers stores will be accepting donations of used clothing and soft home goods to benefit Goodwill – Duluth. You’ll be able to hand your donation over to one of Goodwill’s friendly program participants.
Donated items will be sold at Goodwill stores, and the revenues will fund its job training and employment placement programs, which serve more than 200 people each day. Donated items also provide work hours for program participants who prepare the goods for resale.
Every donor will be rewarded with valuable coupons.
For each item of clothing or textile donated, shoppers will receive a discount coupon that can be used online or at any Younkers or Herbergers stores. The coupons can be used on nearly everything in the store such as women’s, men’s and children’s apparel, shoes, handbags and accessories at a 25 percent discount, home store merchandise at a 20 percent discount and cosmetics, fragrances, furniture, and small electronics at a 15 percent discount.
Thanks for donating!
by Valerie Clark
Public Relations Specialist, Goodwill Duluth
Like anyone, David Makowsky probably has a bad day every now and then. But to see his great positive attitude and never-ending smile, you’d never know it!
Dave has been working at Goodwill for about 15 years, and the 36-year-old currently works on the downstairs sorting line with work supervisor Tammi. He enjoys the position.
“She’s a great boss and I know what I’m doing,” Dave said. “She likes the way I work.”
He says he’s learned a lot through working at Goodwill, where people with disabilities and others with barriers to employment can gain the basic skills and experience they need to succeed in the workplace. For example, Dave has learned that it’s OK to ask for help with work tasks.
“If I have a question, I’ll ask,” Dave says. “If I can’t lift something heavy, I’ll just leave it in the cart and let somebody run it back to the furniture department, or I ask for help.”
In addition to a steady paycheck and a chance for increased independence, his job gives him a purpose, Dave says.
“It gives me something to be active in, because there’s not many jobs out there for people,” he explains. “I feel bad for the people that don’t have a job right now. That’s why I’m here to work, to make money, to work with my co-workers. It makes a very big difference. I feel sorry for the people that don’t have a job, that don’t live on their own.”
Dave has also learned many different work skills during his time at Goodwill. He’s been involved with the Choremasters lawn care crew in the summer, and has worked on the docks, with the transportation department, and in the furniture/electrical mechanical department. He’s even run the freight elevator a few times.
“I’ve done several jobs here,” he said.
Dave likes to stay busy in his free time too. He bowls and plays golf and softball, and enjoys fishing and spending time with his family.
Kris Olson
DULUTH – Goodwill – Duluth’s new assistant director started work on Feb. 4, bringing with her a wide range of experience in business management and information technology.
Kris Olson most recently worked as director of operations at Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, where she was involved in daily operations, including budgeting, sales strategies and facilities management.
A graduate of the College of St. Scholastica, Olson is a past member of the Duluth Harbortown Rotary Club, a past board member of PAVSA, and a graduate of Leadership Duluth.
During her first week at Goodwill, Olson said she was impressed by the agency’s financial and operational management, as well as its long-term employees.
“The longevity and loyalty of the staff here says a lot about the organization,” Olson said.
She hopes to help Goodwill continue to grow and find new opportunities.
“I want to enhance the organization’s impact on both the community and the clients that we serve,” she said.
Goodwill is a nonprofit organization with a mission of job creation and development for people with disabilities and others with barriers to employment. Headquartered in Duluth, the local Goodwill employs more than 350 people at its 13 regional stores and central retail distribution center.
Information: www.goodwillduluth.org, vclark@goodwillduluth.org
Goodwill is facing a downturn in its supply of donated goods, and is seeking the public’s help in bringing its incoming goods volume up to its necessary level.
The nonprofit agency typically sees a slowdown from December through March, but this winter has been especially slow, according to Goodwill public relations specialist Valerie Clark.
“Goodwill relies on donated goods to create jobs for people who have disabilities that make it difficult for them to find jobs,” Clark said. “Our current shortage of donated goods, especially clothing, could mean work cutbacks for our program participants.”
This winter’s cold snaps and snowy conditions have probably contributed to the decline, Clark said, as people become less likely to venture out to make donations. Goodwill also is seeing increased competition for donated goods as for-profit companies have moved into the local marketplace.
The collection, processing, transportation and sales of donated goods directly creates jobs for just over 100 people each day. A shortfall in inventory could mean fewer work hours for those people, Clark said.
Goodwill accepts donations locally at any of its store locations during regular business hours. Stores are located in Duluth at 700 Garfield Ave., in Hermantown at 4883 Miller Trunk Highway, and in Superior at 2401 Tower Ave. There’s currently a critical need for clothing items for men, women and children, and gently used furniture.
by Valerie Clark
Public Relations Specialist, Goodwill Duluth
vclark@goodwillduluth.org
Cheryl Moeller enjoys her job in Goodwill’s rack department so much that she often wants to work a full day even when she’s scheduled for a part-time shift.
“She’s a dedicated little worker,” says Bonnie Slattery, Cheryl’s work supervisor in the rack department, where clothing is sorted by size and category before being placed in one of Goodwill’s 13 regional retail stores.
“I just like working here,” said Cheryl, who has worked with Goodwill since 1984. She enjoys her job, she says, and her co-workers.
“I get along with everybody,” she says.
Goodwill’s extended employment program, which helps to provide jobs to people with barriers to finding work, gives Cheryl a great place to meet people and socialize.
“She’s really blossomed a lot since she’s been here,” Bonnie said.
Cheryl, who was born and raised in Duluth, belongs to a bowling league, and enjoys movies and jigsaw puzzles. She’s working on a 1,000-piece puzzle at the moment.
“It’s going to take me awhile!” Cheryl says.
Donations of gently used clothing and other household items help Goodwill to create meaningful work for more than 200 people in the Northland.
by Valerie Clark
Public Relations Specialist, Goodwill Duluth
vclark@goodwillduluth.org
If you thought you saw Gene Simmons working on one of Goodwill’s sorting lines, don’t get out your autograph book just yet. It was probably another rocker, Dale Norton, who has been benefiting from Goodwill’s vocational training programs since 1997.
Dale, a rock music fan who plays the guitar and has seen Ozzy Osbourne in concert twice, works in Goodwill’s GM2 production area. He has gained many job skills through the years thanks to Goodwill’s employment training programs, and he’s worked in the store, the electronics department, and the match packaging program that Goodwill used to host. These days he spends his time getting merchandise ready to be sent out to the stores.
“It has to be good,” he says. “I clean it up if it’s dirty. I do a really good job.”
He packages items to be transported safely to one of Goodwill’s regional stores.
Working at Goodwill is beneficial, Dale says, because it provides him with income while giving him a daily purpose. He usually works from about 12:30-4:15, Monday-Friday, providing him with structure for his day.
“I don’t want to sit around,” he said. “I get too bored.”
As for his long-term career goals, Dale thinks he might like to be a barber or a fashion designer like his celebrity lookalike, Gene Simmons.
“Gene Simmons designs his own clothes,” Dale said.
But for now, Dale is happy at Goodwill, sorting through the interesting items that come through donations.
“I like seeing all the stuff I go through,” he said.
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