Every year during the first full week of May, Goodwill organizations celebrate Goodwill Week. This Goodwill Week, the non-profit is encouraging you to “Get to Know Goodwill”. Goodwill is a network of non-profit organizations governed by a local president and CEO and a board of directors. Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area sells donated goods to fund education, training, and employment for people in their 23-county territory in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. For more than 100 years, our area Goodwill has helped people find jobs, support their families and gain the satisfaction that comes from stable employment. Goodwill operates an Opportunity Campus and two Opportunity Centers in our area. Goodwill Opportunity Campus: 6104 Preservation Drive, Chattanooga, 423-629-2501 Goodwill Opportunity Center - East Brainerd: 7601 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, 423-757-9527 Goodwill Opportunity Center – Dalton: 1001 Market Street, Dalton, 706-609-5647 Goodwill operates over a dozen stores and four attended donation centers in our region. The organization employs over 350 individuals, many of whom have barriers to employment. “Goodwill believes that every person regardless of ability, situation, or background can achieve their greatest potential,” said Michelle Turner, Director of Marketing and Communications of Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area. “We are grateful to our donors, shoppers, employees and participants who help bring this vision to life.” Since 1923, Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area has helped people with barriers to employment get the training and support they need to find competitive jobs in the community. Barriers may include physical and developmental disabilities or other disadvantages such as a lack of formal education or a long absence from employment. When you shop or donate to Goodwill, you are helping people in your community turn their potential into opportunity. Visit www.goodwillchatt.org to learn more. Read the Article Here .
Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area is hosting a forklift operator training course in conjunction with Sunbelt Rentals on Monday, April 28, through Thursday, May 1. The class will be held at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus at 6104 Preservation Dr. in Chattanooga. In addition to these types of training opportunities, the Goodwill Opportunity Campus and the two Opportunity Centers in Dalton and East Brainerd provide free employment services such as career assessments, job search support, employment readiness assistance, digital skills training, financial and nutritional education and resume and interview preparation. "Hosting these training events is just one way we contribute to our community," said Rachel Inman, vice president of Mission Service"At Goodwill, we are dedicated to offering resources that support individuals in their job search and future career growth." For more information or to register, contact Cornisha Espey at 423-634-2935 or cornisha.m.espey@tn.gov. Read More Here .
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 .
The Goodwill Opportunity Center in Dalton will host a hiring event in conjunction with Match Staffing on Thursday, April 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Match Staffing is hiring for entry-level general labor, machine maintenance, and building maintenance positions at an employee-owned company in Dalton and Adairsville. The Goodwill Opportunity Center is inside the Goodwill Store at 1001 Market Street, near Mountain Creek Harley–Davidson in the Market Street Shoppes of Dalton shopping center. In addition to hiring events, the Goodwill Opportunity Center provides free career services such as career assessments, job search support, employment readiness assistance, digital skills training, financial and nutritional education and resume and interview preparation. "Hosting hiring events is just one way we contribute to our community," stated Rachel Inman, Vice President of Mission Services. "At Goodwill, we are dedicated to offering resources that support individuals in their job search and future career growth." Since 1923, Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area has been helping people access the training and resources needed to secure competitive jobs. Goodwill Opportunity Centers are located in Dalton, East Brainerd, and Chattanooga. The revenue generated from Goodwill’s 16 local stores directly funds education, training, and employment services in the region, serving 23 counties across Georgia and Tennessee.
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
National Clean Out Your Closet Week National Clean Out Your Closet Week is celebrated every third week of March. This week serves as a perfect opportunity to declutter. Cleaning out your closets can help reduce stress, increase productivity, and give you a sense of control. Once you’ve sorted through your belongings, donating your gently used items to Goodwill is a powerful way to provide those items a new life while supporting your community.
Goodwill will host a two-day hiring event at the Goodwill Opportunity Center in East Brainerd on Tuesday, March 25, and Wednesday, March 26, from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The Goodwill Opportunity Center is located at 7601 East Brainerd Road, Suite 121, next to the Goodwill store and Donation Xpress location. The hiring event is in partnership with Schneider Trucking, which is recruiting for regional truck-driving positions. The roles offer weekly home time and a competitive benefits package, including a 401(k) with company match, medical, dental, and vision insurance. Open interviews will be held during the hiring event. A demo fleet truck will be available for viewing. “In addition to frequent hiring opportunities like these, our center offers free career services like resume development and job search support to anyone in the community,” said Ben Salser, Goodwill Opportunity Center – East Brainerd manager. 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 community. Goodwill Opportunity Centers are located in East Brainerd, Chattanooga and Dalton. Free services offered at Goodwill Opportunity Centers include career assessments, career and job search support, employment readiness assistance, digital skills training, financial and nutritional education, on-site job coaching, resume and interview preparation and access to on-site resources and career fairs. Revenue from the sale of goods at Goodwill’s 16 area stores, remains local and funds employment and training programs to help people in the community overcome barriers to advance their careers. Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area provides education, training and employment for people in a 23-county region in Tennessee and Georgia. Visit www.goodwillchatt.org to learn more. For questions, call the Goodwill Opportunity Center – East Brainerd at 423-757-9527 or email them at bens@goodwillchatt.org Read more Here
Opportunity Center in Dalton, offering local job seekers an opportunity to connect with an employer in the Dalton area. The Goodwill Opportunity Center is inside the Goodwill Store at 1001 Market St., near Mountain Creek Harley–Davidson in the Market Street Shoppes of Dalton shopping center. The hiring event in partnership with The Cleaning Advantage is Wednesday, March 12, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The Cleaning Advantage is seeking to hire janitorial and floor care professionals for roles at Dalton State College. Ideal candidates will have experience in commercial cleaning and floor care. Attendees are asked to bring a resume and two forms of identification to the hiring event. In addition to hiring events, Goodwill’s Opportunity Center provides free career services such as career assessments, job search support, employment readiness assistance, digital skills training, financial and nutritional education and resume and interview preparation. “Hiring events are just one example of how we give back to the community,” said Rachel Inman, vice president of mission services. “Goodwill is committed to providing resources to help people succeed in their job search and beyond.” Visit www.goodwillchatt.org to learn more. For questions, call the Goodwill Opportunity Center – Dalton at 706-609-5647 or email Ben Salser at bens@goodwillchatt.org.
