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Tag: Alberta
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Employer Inclusion Accelerator Program
Goodwill is launching a brand new program that provides support and coaching to employers who would like to hire people with disabilities and are not sure how to get started and how to ensure success.
This program supports employers with:
Goodwill provides: hiring, retention, onboarding and coaching support for Employers. If an employer is interested in contributing to their community, contact Goodwill, as we can get you started! The process is easy!
- It all begins with an initial assessment to determine your goals with regard to hiring individuals with disabilities.
- Your Employer Coach will work with you to develop a customized plan including:
- Job posting
- Advertising
- Interviews
- Selection
- Onboarding
- Orientation
- Ongoing Coaching
- All of this is provided at no cost to employers!
(Note: ineligible organizations are recruitment businesses or other organizations hired and paid for by an employer, federal or territorial governments, federal crown corporations and agencies)
How the Employer Inclusion program works Workshops
For all FREE video workshops to assist employers, be sure to keep an eye on monthly tutorials.
To view them at a later date please visit our Employer Inclusion Workshop page.Contact Us Today!
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Christmas Tree Auction
Christmas Tree Auction
Our stores are busy prepping for the upcoming holiday season and gathering supplies to create one-of-a-kind, fully decorated Christmas trees to auction off.
Christmas Tree Auction 7 Christmas trees will begin being displayed from November 12-26 (in-store only), with all proceeds going towards our mission of helping Albertans with disabilities find and gain meaningful employment.
How Does it Work:
- Stop by any Goodwill Thrift Store in Alberta from November 12-26th.
- Stores will have anywhere from 2-6 trees displayed, completely decorated!
- Visit us in-store and pick your favorite trees. Talk to a team member at the cash register, and place your bid on the bidding sheet available.
- If you have the highest bid, you will be contacted on November 27, to come purchase and pick up the tree.
What You Get:
If you are the winning bid, you will get to take home a fully decorated Christmas tree! Ornaments, lights, and the tree are all included. All money raised from this auction will go directly towards our mission, of helping Albertans with disabilities find and gain meaningful employment.
Christmas Tree Auction 8 -
Thank You
Your donations are making a positive IMPACT!
Donations is where our journey begins at Goodwill. Your support, means more people with barriers are entering the workforce then ever before.
We are taking your donations to re-sell in our stores, where 90% of all funds raise goes right back into our mission.
Some of your broken furniture donations are repaired and upcycled through a program led by Albertans with disabilities, to re-sell at our stores.
We are taking your unwanted items and finding a new home, creating an extended lifecycle for the product and sparking joy for a new generation.
THANK YOU to our shoppers, donors and all Albertans, as you all continue to step up for the GOOD of your community, making a positive impact for our province.
Your donations empower Albertans with disabilities through the power of work and the dignity of a job. Thank You
Throughout November and December, we’ll be saying thank you in our own unique GOODWILL way, because your contributions have helped further our mission of helping those with disabilities to get back into the workforce, finding the right job, for the right person.
Some things to consider about your contributions:
• You helped over 170 Albertans through our Career Connections portfolio.
• You contribute to the more than 700,000 donations we received this past year. (and counting)
• Through recycling and re-purposing we divert about 19million kilograms from landfills annually.
• 90 cents of every dollar you spent was reinvested into Goodwill’s mission.Together we are changing lives for the better, strengthening families and communities, through the power of work and the dignity of a job.
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We Remember
Honouring those we serve
At 11 A.M. on November 11, 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the Germans back, having inflicted heavy defeats upon them over the preceding four months. In November, the Germans called for an armistice, or suspension of fighting, in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted allied terms that amounted to an unconditional surrender.
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. The moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war. This first modern world conflict had brought about the mobilization of over 70 million people and left between nine million and 13 million dead, perhaps as many as one-third of them with no known grave. The allied nations chose this day and time for the commemoration of their dead soldiers.
On November 11th, we honour the proud men and women, who continue to protect our freedom, our country and our families.
Goodwill towards our province
Throughout the years at Goodwill, we have been honoured to receive some very generous donations. Some of these items have historical significance relating back to the battles of World War 1 and World War 2. Our organization searches high and low to either return the items to the correct owner, or honour these items by giving them to a local museum.
War Medals Returned to Family
In November of 2021, a military family was re-united with personal heirlooms on Remembrance Day. This all started with a donation we received at our Calgary Trans Canada Goodwill Thrift Store. A shadow box filled with medals, patches, and a black and white photograph of two soldiers showed up at our donation centre. Unsure of who it belonged to, we knew we needed to do some research to try and find a respectful resting place for them.
Letters from WW2 found
A routine check of donated goods has unexpectedly turned up a couple of wartime letters. Found in Kentucky, letters from the war time turned up in an unexpected donation box. The letters were originally written and mailed during World War II. One was composed at sea, postmarked Jan. 27, 1943. The effort is underway to try to locate any relatives of the serviceman who wrote them 80 years ago.
More Medals Returned
In November of 2019, a Memorial Cross with the name Sgt. R.W. Finch engraved on it was donated, along with various medals from World War II and photographs of family members. We felt strongly that they should be returned to their rightful owner as they held too much sentimental value and so the search for the donor began.
Within 8 hours of a Social Media post asking the public to help find this donor, the message spread from Calgary, to Edmonton, to Winnipeg. Tracey Scott, a Calgary resident arrived at the Trans Canada location to retrieve the box of items she never knew existed. Scott’s hands were trembling as she held onto photos of her grandmother, grandfather and mom, and the medal given to the young widow.
The Poppy
In the days leading up to November 11, Poppies can be seen in every corner of this great country. This show of support and display of remembrance would not be possible without the efforts of thousands of Legionnaires who volunteer to distribute Poppies to the community through schools, community organizations and local businesses. We are so grateful for their efforts, and for the support of the many partners, local and national, who welcome Legion volunteers and Poppy boxes into their locations.
Goodwill will be wearing the poppy on our trucks, so you will see them in and around our community, as we support our Troops and remember the fallen.
Poppy’s on Goodwill Trucks -
Clean 50 Awards
A Sustainable Action Plan for GOOD.
The Clean50 Top Projects annually recognize those projects completed in the prior two years based on their innovation, their ability to inform, and inspire other Canadians. The Top Project of the year is then selected each year at the Clean50 Summit, from votes cast by both incoming and Alumni members of the Clean50.
Goodwill is proud to be a 2023 Delta Management Group Clean 50 Top Project for the Goodwill Impact Centre. Goodwill annually diverts 90% of all donated goods from landfills in the Edmonton Region and over 19 million kgs of donated goods provincially.
Goodwill Impact Centre, located in Edmonton, AB History
In 2015, in line with the organization’s goal of reducing its environmental footprint, Goodwill Industries of Alberta envisioned a sustainability centre of excellence. They wanted to find a way to consolidate many of their Edmonton area operations in one place and were keen on finding yet more ways to divert waste from the landfill. They also wanted to ensure that they were creating employment opportunities for Albertans with disabilities.
Goodwill’s goals for the Impact Centre were as lofty as they were laudable. They wanted to give their customers one last chance to re-use and purchase items at a very reasonable cost and increase the volume of items recycled and resold. The planned Goodwill Outlet store at the centre promised to curtail the amount of waste generated the company sends to landfills, reducing waste management operations.
Goodwill Repair for GOOD furniture repair Innovation
As well, Goodwill’s plan for the centre involved developing innovative collaboration programs with other agencies and organizations in order to create a new use for items they had not managed to sell. By renovating furniture and adapting bicycles for use by disabled children, for example, Goodwill knew they could give discarded items a second, useful life. This practice not only prevents waste directly but bringing an item back rather than binning it saves the earth from the carbon emissions generated by manufacturing these goods from scratch.
Beyond the wheeling, dealing, nuts and bolts side of the Impact Centre, Goodwill wanted it to act as the main ground for designing and promoting sustainability practices for all the stores and offices within Alberta. Energy conservation has long been a priority for the organization and an in-depth understanding of its footprint helped lay the groundwork for the Goodwill Impact Centre. Goodwill’s daily waste and recycling audits allowed them to establish the baseline year and determine the areas for improvement. Energy Audits were performed at most Goodwill sites, along with a carbon inventory. Third-party organizations like Green Economy Canada and the City of Edmonton were engaged to gather data relevant to Goodwill’s energy performance. They began collecting key performance indicators related to energy and waste on a monthly basis, information that was then audited by both their finance team and KPMG.
Meetings with the Senior Leadership Team and recycling companies facilitated the drafting of Goodwill’s first Sustainability Action Plan, which helped establish recycling guidelines for their operations. A carbon inventory was made and more importantly, a Sustainability Training program was developed for Goodwill Team Members. This was done in order to help keep the eight hundred plus Goodwill Team Members motivated. Every day this work is paying off in so many ways.
Since the opening of the Impact Centre in 2017, Goodwill’s recycling practices have expanded to electronics, appliances, books, plastics, lightbulbs, and batteries and the list continues to grow. As well, Goodwill has started a repair program for broken furniture (Repair for Good) and a program to enhance the micro-mobility of disabled children (You Can Ride 2) in the Edmonton area.
Goodwill diversion totals from landfills annually Zero-Waste
As part of Goodwill’s commitment to continuously improving its sustainability action plan, in order to become a Zero Waste organization, the Impact Centre recently launched a program for mending damaged Goodwill uniforms, instead of discarding and buying new ones.
The Goodwill Impact Centre is at the centre of Goodwill’s commitment to continuously improving its sustainability action plan in order to become a Zero Waste organization.
For more on the Clean 50 Awards and other projects that make a difference, please visit: https://clean50.com/projects/
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Thrift Store Bus Tour
Have you ever heard of Thrift Hopping? Well, on Wednesday, August 17th, thirty passionate
thrifters celebrated National Thrift day by boarding a party bus that would take them across the
city for a full day of thrifting!
Thrift Store Bus Tour 24 While the party bus was scheduled to pick the group up at noon, enthusiastic thrifters began
showing up at Plaza Goodwill as early as 10:30 a.m. to let the shopping festivities commence.
Many were able to point out the party crew as they filled up the store with matching blue
bandanas and thrifting-themed bingo cards (as shown below).
News crews showed up to capture some of the action as the group began to board the bus. The
uplifting vibes for the day were set; lights illuminated the interior, and like-minded thrifters began
to mingle as feel-good songs played in the background.
Thrift Store Bus Tour 25 First stop, Chinook Goodwill- ready, set, thrift! Every stop provided thirty minutes of thrifting-filled
excitement. Each thrift hopper had a different goal in mind. Some were motivated to find
vintage, trendy clothes or shoes while others were on the hunt to find home decor or inspiration
for their next DIY project!The wheels on the bus rolled on to our next destination, Change is Good, a fellow non-profit
thrift store that has curated racks featuring stand-out consignment finds! Located in the heart of
Inglewood, this boutique thrift store provided thrift hoppers with a selection of notable brands at
a reasonable price. Owned and operated by The Calgary Dream Center, proceeds go towards
working with individuals who are facing homelessness and addiction.
Thrift Store Bus Tour 26 The final stop was Goodwill’s Varsity location. When thrifters stepped through the front door,
they were met with an inspiring aesthetic that helped them envision the many possible creative
styles of repurposing.As we boarded the bus one final time, it seemed to be a tighter squeeze. Maybe it was all the
sandwiches we ate…but it was most likely attributed to all the full shopping bags these
passionate thrifters had seated beside them.
Thrift Store Bus Tour 27 Thirty thrifters were able to shop until they dropped while supporting good causes within their
community! The purchases made at each stop go towards supporting Goodwill Industries of
Alberta’s mission to help Albertans with disabilities find and gain meaningful employment.Buying second-hand goods brings a new item into someone’s life while simultaneously
supporting Goodwill’s sustainability initiatives. Last year, Goodwill Industries of Alberta diverted over 19.6 million kg from local landfills.
Thrift Store Bus Tour 28 Shoppers at each stop were curious about how they can get in on the action. The thrifting party
bus was anticipated to be a one-time event BUT after listening to participants’ positive feedback
and receiving interest from those thrift hoppers that missed out, Goodwill hopes to bring back
the bus. An event that should be added to your thrift bucket list! -
Three Takes on Only Buying Second Hand
Three Takes on Only Buying Second Hand
Over the past few months, there has been an undeniable rise in thrift culture. Individuals of all ages are buying their clothes, books, and décor from thrift stores. With this comes the “buy nothing new” challenge. For a period of time, an individual can challenge themselves only to buy secondhand. It’s an interesting challenge that, as a thrift store, we wanted to dive into.
So, we asked three avid thrifters about their experience with shopping primarily second-hand to get their take on thrifting and see if we could do it ourselves.
Why have you decided to shop primarily thrift?
Three Takes on Only Buying Second Hand 37 Alexandra- “Thrifting is much more exciting than buying clothes from a regular store. When you find them, it feels like you’ve uncovered buried treasure!”
My 2022 New Year’s Resolution was to not buy a single new piece of clothing, [pair of] shoes, or accessories. Shopping at retail stores is so expensive and wasteful, and you can get better items for a fraction of the price at thrift stores. The thrill you get from finding a fantastic and unique piece that fits you perfectly, I have never felt that exciting feeling shopping at a retail store. It’s just an entirely different experience. I’m not shopping; I’m exploring and love it so much. I did this as a New year’s resolution, but I honestly don’t know how to go back to shopping in a store. It all just seems so wasteful now.
Emilie- “It’s a way of being; it’s a way of approaching the world, it’s a perspective, it’s a way that I portray myself in the world, it’s how I interact with people, it’s the way I connect with things and people.”
When I was 27, I completely overhauled my life, became vegan, and started hiking. I did a bunch of things that were going to help me -especially with my mental health. I wanted to get healthy in all aspects, including my relationship with how I treated the environment. That’s where fashion really started coming into my life. I decided to look into a more sustainable way of dressing myself. I was getting uninspired by the fashion space, by what I was seeing in the mall, or on the runways even.
Then I turned to my love of antiques, and I started educating myself. It was really in 2019/2020 that I started really thinking about going second-hand only. That coincided with the pandemic; thrifting just became the thing that was most accessible and also gave me the most joy. I just love the thrill of the find, but it’s also this idea of exploring creativity in a non-judgmental way. It’s just rethinking how pieces can be worn and how pieces can make people happy in very different ways.
Now everything I wear is thrifted. It expanded my mind in terms of my creativity, and I really equate my start of shopping sustainability, making my own clothes, and thrifting to my creative expansion. For me preloved pieces, especially when I find a vintage piece, you feel it, you touch it, you make up this story behind it in your mind, and that’s what fascinates me. It shows your perspective on the world. To me, that’s what it did, and that’s creative me. Creativity is a huge theme in my life, and that’s important to me, and that’s thrifting to me, that ultimate idea of inspiration.
Three Takes on Only Buying Second Hand 38 Nanum- “I think it was -when I first started- the matter of price.”
I was an international student here in Calgary and couldn’t really afford new clothing -it was pretty expensive for me. I think someone told me, “you should try Goodwill. They sell used stuff for a lower price.” I think that’s why I started thrifting to purchase stuff that was in my budget.
What is the biggest challenge when primarily thrifting?
Alexandra- “The biggest challenge is that sometimes you don’t find what you’re looking for.”
For example, I’ve been looking for a pair of white pumps for a few months now, and I haven’t found them. But it’s not really a challenge in a bad way. It’s a challenge and a good way because I know when I finally find them, it’s going to be so exciting.
Emilie- “The challenges I have are all positive. You got to be patient, and it will come to you.”
Three Takes on Only Buying Second Hand 39 The biggest challenge is to make choices at the thrift store. The fun of thrifting is to find a bunch of different pieces and putting them together and make cool outfits. That’s what I love to do, but not everyone has that, and I see why one of the big challenges for shopping second-hand only is how to style the piece of clothing. There is such a huge amount – an overwhelming amount- of clothing it is hard to picture how things will fit into your wardrobe and incorporate into it. I think the trend cycle doesn’t help with that. There are so many vintage lovers that are here to inspire and showcase how we can incorporate second-hand clothing into our wardrobe in a sustainable, fun, creative way that will reflect who you are and your style. I can see why it can be challenging for people to go through all these things and find inspiration, if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
Every now and then, you find the most incredible deal! And you’re not just thrifting low-quality brands, and you were thrifting designer labels for under $20. I found my first-ever fur coat for $250, and I love it so much! The coat was probably worth a few thousand when it was first purchased, and I got it for $250! You find all of the best brands for the absolute best price. I have so many stunning formal gowns, and because I know how to sew and can make my own clothes, I don’t need to be too confined by size. If I am in love with it, I can make it fit.
What has surprised you the most on this journey?
Alexandra – “I am rather surprised how much I fell in love with it.”
Three Takes on Only Buying Second Hand 40 Every now and then, you find the most incredible deal! And you’re not just thrifting low-quality brands, and you were thrifting designer labels for under $20. I found my first-ever fur coat for $250, and I love it so much! The coat was probably worth a few thousand when it was first purchased, and I got it for $250! You find all of the best brands for the absolute best price. I have so many stunning formal gowns, and because I know how to sew and can make my own clothes, I don’t need to be too confined by size. If I am in love with it, I can make it fit.
Emilie – “What’s surprising to me is the number of incredible pieces that you can find at the thrift store every time it surprises you.”
Like today it was the five fringe leather jackets that I found. I’m like, “how and where did these people get these?” And the stories behind it, the surprises that you can find. What’s a surprise is the number of incredible pieces that you can actually find. I love being surprised by tags, where they were from, how they were made, and the seam work. Those are things that surprise me.
Nanum – “I am surprised by how much I can find.”
Three Takes on Only Buying Second Hand 41 You know, I remember thinking, “I really want that orange skirt,” and then I go thrifting a week later and find the perfect piece I wanted. It fits me perfectly, is good quality, and just my style. I’m surprisingly finding the pieces that I am looking for, and all my clothes are pieces that I love are thrifted. It’s really weird. I needed a really specific chair that I can’t find in the store but guess what? I found it at Goodwill for like $5!
What advice would you give to someone looking to start their thrift journey?
Alexandra – “Keep looking, keep digging through the racks, check out all of the sections, and never miss the sale section.”
My advice is to just get started! One day you are going to find a life-changing piece of clothing, and it is going to make you feel so confident, so trendy, and so beautiful. You will never want to take it off! And you don’t have to worry about being wasteful, because everything is in a cycle! You buy the clothes from a second-hand store, and once you no longer wear it, you just donate it back to the same store for the next lucky girl! And all along the way, you are helping various charities! So, you can feel good about treating yourself because you know you were going to return it to the store at the end of its use, and you were helping various charities. Women in need, people with disabilities, animal shelters, overseas missions and more! So, you can feel good about shopping. My only caution is that you will fall in love with this, so get excited for that.
Emilie – “I would say you want to start by going with people that you trust and that know you because they can help bounce ideas off of.”
It’s important to go with a wide-open mind, all the while having very clear boundaries to what you’re looking for. [It] makes it easy for your eye to go through the rack. If you’re looking for a maxi dress, just look at the bottom of the rack and the length of the dress. Just know the kind of pieces you want to experiment with and the kind of pieces you’ll wear. If you like to wear black, have 50% of your cart be black then the rest – if you want to experiment- you can feed it a little more. If you go without an idea of what you want and you’re just starting out, you can either leave with nothing or leave with way too much. Make sure you can exchange things, so keep your receipt.
Nanum – “I would advise you to look for something you actually need or want.”
I realized that I am being more environmentally responsible because I’m shopping at Goodwill or thrift shops. Still, I realize that I don’t necessarily need all these items that I’m purchasing. I was stuck with that thought, “oh, it’s okay because I am buying used. I am doing good.” Sometimes I end up with a huge bag of clothing that I actually didn’t need. All I needed was sweat pants, but I ended up with a skirt. Have a specific shape or colour that you want. I started bringing my measuring tape. You know your size, measure the pants that you like, measure the T-shirt you like because sometimes it looks like it will fit on you but when you try it on it doesn’t look good. So, if you have a pair of pants that you like, just measure them “this is what I like about them.”
How have you found this journey has impacted shopping outside of thrift?
Alexandra – “I don’t shop outside of thrift anymore! I believe the last thing I bought was a shelf in February 2022.”
Three Takes on Only Buying Second Hand 42 Everything I get, clothes, kitchenware, shoes, accessories, furniture, decorations, storage, luggage, absolutely everything, has come from thrift stores! People absolutely adore my clothes, and I can’t go anywhere without getting a compliment [or] people asking me where I got them. Because of the things circulating in thrift stores, many of them are timeless items. Items that will come back into fashion year after year. Including the stunning vintage luggage set that I absolutely adore. One of my co-workers took a picture of it so she could try and find it for herself online. Another thing that I’ve noticed is my perception of value has really changed. Because I know I can get something at the thrift store for $10, somebody else would spend $250 firsthand. When I see advertisements for clothes I like, my first thought is, “I can’t wait to find that at the thrift.” And my bank account is eternally grateful for this choice. I have my own company, so I often work full days, seven days a week, and thrifting is the one thing I do for myself. It brings me so much joy, it brings me so much peace, and it allows me to escape a busy, busy life for just a couple of hours.
Emilie – “Now that I go thrifting, I get so inspired by these pieces that complement my wardrobe in different ways that make me expand my wardrobe.”
Three Takes on Only Buying Second Hand 43 Oh my god, has it ever! Here’s the thing, some people go into a mall and say, “I want these things, but I want them sustainable. So, I’m going to go thrifting.” If you like contemporary fashion, go into a mall, go online and find [it] at the thrift store. You can use that inspiration to really drill down what you need and want. [It] makes me expand my style and the experimental aspect of fashion. Then I go to a mall, and I’m like, “everything looks the same.” Every thrifted piece you wear more than three times will impact the environment than if you buy 15 million things at the thrift store and never wear. It makes it feel accessible when you can see that someone like you can do this, you can do this too. It’s cool to see that people can create with very diverse things, and that’s what the thrift store offers. I think thrifting and second-hand shopping have become so popular because people are getting creative with how they are styling. Individuality has become such a powerful statement people are indulging in it, and I am loving it! In places like Goodwill -in comparison to others in the way [they lay it out]- you find more inspiration there than any other thrift store.
Nanum – “I used to spend a lot of money on new trendy clothing every single season, but ever since I got into thrift, I keep more pieces.”
Three Takes on Only Buying Second Hand 44 I definitely don’t buy new clothing anymore unless I am really into a certain type of clothing that I can’t find at Goodwill. I don’t go to the mall anymore. When my friends were like, “Nanum, we want to go buy a swimming suit,” we went to the mall together, and I realized that swimming suits can be quite expensive. For me, swimming suits need to be under $10. I’m used to thrift pricing, so if anything is over $20, I am like, “that’s quite expensive.” I spend so much less money shopping for my appearance and more money on my hobbies, better-quality food, or going on a vacation. I remember every summer, I would be like, “where’s all my summer clothing? I need summer clothing,” and every winter, “I need to buy these to fit in.” I definitely changed from every season buying new clothing and how I style differently with pieces I have. [I do] try to buy pieces that can go with pieces that I already have, so that’s something that shifted a lot.
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Thrift Store Bus Tour
Hear me out….. a party bus but it stops at thrift stores.
Yes, you read that right, we are taking 30 thrifters across the city to various thrift stores to shop until they drop! With four stops, you will have time to visit three Goodwill locations, and one partner non-profit thrift store: Change is Good.
What do you get?
A FULL day of thrifting, and transportation so you can sit back and relax between stops. There will be special goodies at each stop, and the option to purchase lunch.
Bus Tour Stops:
- Plaza Goodwill
- Chinook Goodwill
- Beacon Heights Goodwill
- Change is Good
When:
Wednesday, August 17 from 12-5 p.m.
Where:
Pickup at Drop off at Goodwill Plaza
$10 each, only 30 available, purchase your tickets here.
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FREE Stampede Breakfast at Goodwill Plaza
We are celebrating one year at our Plaza location, in true Stampede style: A free Pancake breakfast!
Join us for pancakes, prizes, donation bins and live music from Daniel Hayes. This family-friendly event is the perfect way to get in the Stampede spirit, and find some great thrift finds after filling up on pancakes.
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When: Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 9-11 a.m.
Where: Plaza Goodwill (9655 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB).
What: Free pancake breakfast, prizes, donation bins, and Daniel Hayes on-site providing live music!
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Thrifting Hall of Fame
Thrifting Hall of Fame
On Friday, May 6, Goodwill held the first-ever Thrifting Hall of Fame! With hundreds of entries, it was difficult to narrow it down to just 5 winners. We want to not only celebrate all the nominations but also thank you for submitting photos and stories of why you thrift! There was a great collection of stories and videos that were submitted from thrifters across the province.
Congratulations to all of the jaw-dropping, innovative, and inspirational winners. You all embody #thriftexcellence to the very core!
The Event
The event was held in Edmonton, Alberta at The Creative Hive. When we came across their venue, we knew they were the perfect fit as most of their furniture is thrifted from our Impact Centre down the street! We hosted all winners for a special dinner and awards ceremony to present them with
Goodwill hosted a special dinner and awards ceremony to recognize each winner and share more about our mission of helping Albertans with disabilities find and gain meaningful employment.
Mackenzie and Peter are both Goodwill Career Connection and Opportunity Accelerator graduates. They shared their stories and spoke about how Goodwill helped them obtain employment and volunteer opportunities.
The Winners
Congratulations to our first class!
Thrifting Hall of Fame 64
DIY of the Year: Charlene Keough
I started thrifting at a very young age. I grew up in a small town and had limited shopping options. So my sister would take me along to thrift stores with her friends!
My favorite Goodwill find is a pair of open-shelf nightstands. They were very dated and frankly just u-g-l-y but I knew they had so much potential and couldn’t leave them behind.
When thrifting the first thing I look for is furniture. Anything unique, antique, mid-century modern, and in decent shape. I am also always thrifting for “staging” decor for my furniture pieces. I love thrifting for artwork, brass figures, vases, wooden items, and milk glass.
Winning this award means so much to me. I absolutely love what I do and take such pride in my work so to have that recognized and appreciated feels wonderful. I am very honoured!
My Thrift Tip:
A thrift tip I have for someone just starting out would be to go early and go often! New things are put out every day and getting there early gives your first opportunity to find all the treasures.
Follow me:
Donor of the Year: Doreen Essihos
I started donating to Goodwill about 20 years ago, but donated a large amount last year. I share this award with my mother, Eva who passed away last year. I donated so many of her belongings, and frequented the donation centre so often I feel like I own a part of Goodwill!
My mother Eva had a lifetime of treasures and there were things that needed a place and a new beginning, and so off to Goodwill they went.
In addition to donating, I am also an avid thrifter. I love to find both useful and unique items, I’m always looking for a good bargain, and combining old with new!
My Thrift Tip:
My thrift tip is to always have an open mind in a thrift shop.
It really is a treasure hunt and I have found many treasures over the years and had some very lucky days. So go once a week!
Home Décor Hero: Heather + Ashleigh Bit
We love to thrift for the thrill and to find unique treasures. We try as hard as possible not to participate in buying anything new. Our mom, aka thrift queen, started taking us to the thrift store when we were little and introduced us to the magical world of thrifting, and we have been addicted ever since.
One of our favourite Goodwill finds is our antique Medalta crockpot, it’s beautiful! We mostly love to shop for home goods, as that’s where the magic happens! But we frequently thrift clothing as well!
Our Thrift Tip:
Take your time, be patient, manifest a list of what you would like to find, and go frequently. Some days will be more rewarding than others, but don’t give up, keep hunting.
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Fashionable Finds: Emilie Gagnon
I love thrifting because it gets me out of my head and becomes a scavenger hunt for beautiful pieces with history or a unique story. There are no rules when thrifting. I get in flow when I thrift and truly appreciate the full experience – from the sound of the metal hangers on the metal rack to the aisle traffic jams to the discovery of a beautiful 1960s tag I have never seen before.
Although I did not thrift as a child, in high school, I would go to vintage stores and feel the history. I have always been someone who loves shopping and who loves a deal.
It was only in 2019 that I discovered thrifting through fashion and style podcasts that opened my world up to a more sustainable way of living my dreams. I now only thrift – from decor to my closet, everything is secondhand and thrifted and I feel rejuvenated and relieved by it.
My Thrift Tip:
Go into the thrift store knowing what kind of prints and/or colours you are looking for! You can train your eye to only look at the pieces that fit within those parameters. Bring a measuring tape and compare to your own measurements. But remember, if the clothes don’t fit, it’s not your body that is wrong, it is the clothing.
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Kelton Libich- Vintage Finds
I love thrifting because it’s unique. You get to find items you would not see in a store and I mean it’s a bonus because the prices are lower than retail! I also love that Thrifting helps the environment and reduces waste.
I got into thrifting honestly by just going to a thrift store one day and I have been hooked ever since! I’m usually in a thrift store 1-3 times a week.
One of my favourite Goodwill finds was a vintage Disney cassette player that was brand new in the box! My personal style is a mix of vintage and trendy, I love a funky graphic tee, especially if it has Spider-Man on it! My style is influenced by lots of vintage trends as-well as bright fun colours.
My thrift Tip:
As silly as it sounds would be to look around the entire store slowly and not to skip out on any sections… who knows, maybe a treasure has been moved around to an area less looked upon!
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Honourary Donor of the Year: COLLEGE Hunks Hauling Junk
College HUNKS, is a proud partner of Goodwill and a contributor to Goodwill’s sustainability initiatives through donations. Last year, Goodwill in received an all-time record of over 830 thousand donations. This is all thanks to the generosity of Albertans.
College Hunks Hauling has partnered with Goodwill to assist donors in the greater Edmonton area who are unable to bring their donations to a Goodwill donation center. Our hauling partner will not only bring your donations to Goodwill, but they will also clear out your items that Goodwill is unable to accept and take them to another nonprofit or recycler. Congratulations on being our honourary Donor of the Year!
Book a pickup and learn more about College Hunks.
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of each category!
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Spring Cleaning
Your Community. Your Goodwill.
Every day, Goodwill strengthens families and communities through the power of work and the dignity of a job.
During this year’s spring clean, it’s worth going through your closet and passing on things you no longer wear or need. Think of it as thrift karma and keep the cycle going. These outdated shirts, can be vintage pieces for someone else. You’re old appliances will clear up space on your counter after their gone. Your bell-bottom jeans can become costumes for theatre productions.
All these items will raise money and provide employment programs and opportunities for Albertans who are differently-abled. You’ll be supporting your community, through your Goodwill.
Your Donations.
Your donations make a positive impact! While your donations will provide employment opportunities, they will also make a positive impact on the environment.
If an item doesn’t find a new home through the traditional retail chain, Goodwill’s Sustainability Action Plan will ensure the item gets a second chance to bring someone else joy in their life or the item will be recycled responsibly.
Goodwill has close to a 90% diversion rate from the landfill and the organization as a whole diverts millions of kilograms every year!
Your Style.
Your style makes a difference for those with barriers! At the end of the day, it’s all about style. Have fun with it and branch out a little from your usual picks. It is a much cheaper and eco-conscious way of trying NEW trends. Look for clothing that goes together—that way you know you’ll actually be able to wear it.
Thrift items offer you a great opportunity to go highbrow-lowbrow, to mix vintage and modern, and to add some whimsy into your wardrobe. Shop for discarded prom dresses and pair them with sneakers and a jean jacket. Wear a gorgeous vintage jacket with a raggedy rock band t-shirt. Look for items that clash outrageously.
If you find a really great piece that’s a little worn out, don’t wear it with other old things, or your outfit will just look drab. Wear it with a brand new piece and turn its age into a statement.
Your DIY.
Your DIY project creates employment for people with disabilities! The truth is that anyone can be a good thrifter if they keep an open mind. It’s as simple as recognizing when an older piece needs a coat of paint, a little fix, or even just a little love.
Fabric: If you have basic sewing skills, look for fabric scraps to make for pillows, napkins, tablecloths, curtains, and any other project that could use a stash of mismatched prints.
Dining Tables: Smaller tables can be used in kitchens, dining rooms, or repurposed as a desk. If the table has a scuff or needs some DIY love, try sanding it and restyling it with chalk paint. It could turn in to the perfect farmhouse table!
Books: Not just for reading! Older hard cover books can be the perfect way to elegantly decorate your front entryway! Pair it with some re-purposed candle holders, decorative artwork and a family heirloom and you have the perfect welcoming piece to any house or condo.
Meet Your Community.
Our shoppers and our donors are what makes Goodwill, not just GOOD, but GREAT! Meet some people from your community to find out some great thrifting advice, tips and why they support our mission.
Mel and Family
Kenya
Nanoom
Nathan
Your Goodwill.
By supporting Goodwill, you’re supporting your community. In fact, 89cents of every dollar spent at Goodwill goes back into our mission of helping Albertans with disabilities find and gain meaningful employment!
Your old clothes can be someone’s bright future, so please make a difference in a real person’s life today by donating to Goodwill!
Find your nearest Goodwill today!
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The True Cost of Vandalism
The True Cost of Vandalism
Goodwill Industries of Alberta generates opportunities for people to achieve economic stability and build strong families and vibrant communities by offering job training, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have disabilities.
This spirit is now being challenged unfortunately, because of cases of vandalism at three different Goodwill locations this past month. We are saddened and frustrated because now some of our funds are being directed towards repairs and resources. Each broken window costs approximately $1,000, which greatly impacts our organization. Our team’s safety is also paramount, so we are allocating additional resources to ensure their health and safety.
Not only does it take funds away from helping Albertans with disabilities to find meaningful employment, but it also jeopardizes our ability to offer more programs to help even more people.
For example, we have implemented a new program this past year called the Opportunity Accelerator program. A program designed to find even more employment opportunities and job training for those with a disability.
Last year 130 Albertans with disabilities went through our programs to gain important job training. The amount of people we help increases every year and having to pay for unnecessary repairs diverts important funds to these programs and these people.
Goodwill works hard to be a safe place where visitors from all over the world come to enjoy. Goodwill is proud to call Alberta home.
Please do your part and report any unlawful activity to your local authorities. Together we will continue to make a positive impact.
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Six Thrift Store Date Night Ideas
SIX Thrift Store Date Night Ideas
Need some unique date nights to share with your significant other? Look no further then Goodwill! We’ve rounded up 6 unique date night ideas featuring your favorite thrift store: Goodwill!
#1 Outfit Challenge
Give yourselves a budget (it can be whatever you’d like, $25, $50 etc.) to create a “look” for the other person. You can have a lot of fun with this and go hunting for something the other person would actually wear, or you could go for the most “unique” look. At the end of the night, determine a winner between the two of you! Post the results on social media and tag us!
From @Styleandgracepreloved date night challenge 2020 #2 Puzzles/ Boardgames
Did you know that all of our thrift store locations have a games, puzzles and crafting section? We have often seen brand new in the box (with shrink wrap and all). Go with your partner and pick out a new to you board game, or puzzle to do together at home. Pick out some snacks, or order takeout and have fun!
#3 Find the Most Unique Item Challenge
Give each other the challenge to find the most unique item. If you want to put a time limit on it set a timer for 15 min or 30 min, and get to work! This will require you to really scour the store, and keep your eye open for something unique. Together decide who “won” with most unique item!
#4 Find/Purchase ONE Gift for the Other
Set a budget and go look for an item/gift that would be perfect for your partner. Check-out without them seeing it, go home, wrap it, and exchange the gifts with each other explaining why you got what you did.
#5 Paint Night/Create an Art Piece
Stretch those upcycling muscles and create some art with each other! Some ideas to get you started:
- Buy a canvas/art piece from Goodwill and paint over it with your own creation.
- Paint/decorate a piece of furniture with each other
- Grab a décor item and add some colour/creativity to it together (ideas could be: vase, lamp, wall décor item, garden piece, wine or beer glasses etc.).
#6 Thrift Store Scavenger Hunt
- Load the list on your phone, and head out to your local Goodwill for your date!
- Set a timer for 30 min, and take off looking for each item on the list.
Six Thrift Store Date Night Ideas 84 Which one will you try out this month?
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Celebrating Rev. Edgar J. Helms
January 19th holds a special place for Goodwills across the globe. On this day, we celebrate the legacy and 158th birthday of Goodwill founder, Dr. Edgar J. Helms.
Who is Dr. Edgar J. Helms?
Dr. Edgar J. Helms was born near Malone, NY on January 19, 1863. Growing up he tried his hand at law and newspaper publishing but felt a calling to the ministry, and in 1889 he enrolled in Boston University’s Theological School.
Rev. Edgar J. Helms Edgar Helms was a man who believed in the power of work to transform lives and envisioned an organization that wasn’t your typical charity, but instead a chance. From this vision, he led the charge in reimaging a shelter located in the struggling inner city of Boston’s South end.
As a young minister wanting to make an impact, he noticed the barriers that immigrants were facing as they arrived in a new country without jobs, and were sometimes desperate for food, clothing, and shelter. With this knowledge, Edgar Helms took it upon himself to go door-to-door in Boston’s wealthiest districts and ask for donations of clothing and household goods. Fast forward to 1902 when the mission idea of Goodwill was conceived, differing from many charities of that time, emphasizing that donated goods could be sold for profit and that money would be used to pay workers who helped refurbish the goods. Helms hired people in need to do this repair work – many of who were considered unemployable.
Although it wasn’t until 1915 that the term Goodwill Industries was coined, 1902 became known as the year Goodwill was born. With the help of Methodist Church funding, Helms went on to help establish Goodwill Industries organizations across the U.S. By 1920, there were 15 Goodwills, including Morgan Memorial in Boston.
The Legacy
At the time of his death in 1942, there were a little more than 50 local Goodwill organizations. In 2022, there are over 165 independent, local Goodwill® organizations across the United States and Canada, with a presence in 12 other countries. The Goodwill network hasn’t just grown in size – Goodwill has developed a sophisticated donated goods retail business model and enhanced mission services. Job placement and training services include technology, healthcare, hospitality, and more along with family strengthening and other community-building programs. Helms may also be surprised to discover that mission delivery has expanded beyond traditional in-person services to include virtual training and digital resources. You can see how far Goodwill reaches by checking out our Global Reach map.
Today
As Dr. Edgar J. Helms rests in peace, we hope to continue to expand on his forward-thinking and inclusive mission by continuing to grow, learn, and serve more communities across Alberta. With 14 stores across the province, Goodwill Industries of Alberta has not only been able to support thousands of Albertans with disabilities, but we’ve also had the privilege to incorporate a green initiative into our fold. Our sustainability efforts are all-encompassing from ensuring a continuous flow of donations and sales which then power our employment opportunities and training programs, to reducing the amount of waste in landfills resulting in lower emissions and a healthier planet for our community.
All of these milestones and goals wouldn’t be possible without the generous and dedicated members of our province who continue to donate, shop and support our mission goals every day.
You can learn more about our mission and our impact through our Annual Report.
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THANK YOU for making a difference!
Since 1963, Goodwill has been making a positive impact by changing lives for the better, through the power of work and the dignity of a job.
THANK YOU to our shoppers, as your dollars provide purpose and employment to Albertans with disabilities.
THANK YOU to our donors, as your support helps the environment and changes lives for the better.
And THANK YOU to all Albertans as You stepped up for the GOOD of our community this year.
Together, we will continue to strengthen our province.
Throughout November and December, we’ll be saying thank you in our own unique GOODWILL way, because your contributions have helped further our mission of helping those with disabilities get back into the workforce, finding the right job, for the right person.
What does Goodwill mean to you?
Some things to consider about your contributions:
• You helped send over 150 Albertans through our Path to Employment.
• You’ve contributed to the more than 700,000 donations we received this past year.
• Through recycling and re-purposing we have diverted about 16million kilograms from landfills annually.
• 89 cents of every dollar you spent was reinvested into Goodwill’s mission.Together we are changing lives for the better, strengthening families and communities through the power of work and the dignity of a job.
