Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area has purchased the former Fresh N’ Low grocery store building located at 2010 Broomfield Road SE in Cleveland. The Goodwill store opening is planned for later this year. This will be the 17th retail location for Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area. A Goodwill Donation Xpress center is now open on-site daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. while the store is prepared for opening. “We are excited to open a second Goodwill store and donation center in the Cleveland area,” said Solara Sain, Vice President of Operations. “When people shop or donate at Goodwill, they are changing lives by helping to provide free job training and employment opportunities.” Since 1923, Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area has helped people receive the training and support they need to find competitive jobs in our region. Free services offered by Goodwill include career assessments, career and job search support, employment readiness assistance, digital skills training, financial and nutritional education, resume and interview preparation and access to on-site resource and career fairs. Read more Here .
WUTC Scenic Roots Radio Show feat. Gena Weldon Tune in here to WUTC's Scenic Roots radio show to hear from Gena Weldon, the President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area! Gena shares insights on how Goodwill partners with the University of Tennessee and how they are making a difference in our community through education, training, and employment opportunities. Don't miss this chance to learn more about the impactful work being done right here in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia.
Solara Sain From 1992 to 1995, the Bosnian War displaced more than 2 million people as they fled to seek safety from the violence - and Solara Sain was one of them. "I was granted the opportunity to move to the U.S. through a Lutheran Church refugee program," shares Sain. "I had little work experience, but I was determined to find a job that allowed me to earn a living." At the time, Goodwill was opening a new store within walking distance of Sain's apartment, and she was hired as a store associate in January of 1997. Before the war, Sain never imagined she would live in America, so her English was very limited. "When I arrived in the U.S., my English vocabulary consisted of about 200 words, shares Sain. "Every day presented a new challenge to learn something new." Despite this obstacle, Sain persisted. She became a U.S. citizen in 2001, and from 1997 to 2005, Sain was promoted three separate times, eventually earning the title of store manager. But Sain's journey didn't stop there. She continued to participate in training programs and accept any opportunities for growth. From 2008 to 2020, Sain continued to advance in leadership roles at Goodwills across the country, from Oklahoma City to Dallas, Texas. "Today, I am proud to serve as vice president of retail operations at Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga area," says Sain. "Goodwill is much more than a store. More than 85 cents from every dollar generated in stores by the sale of donated items is used to support our mission to help people transform their potential into opportunity through edu-cation, training, and employment." Throughout her career progression at Goodwill, Sain was inspired to persevere by her late father, and his influence still guides her journey today. "He never stopped learning, which is why I enrolled in college to pursue his dream of all of his children obtaining a college degree," finishes Sain. "In May of this year, I will graduate with my master's degree." Read More Here
