Goodwill invests $100,000 into local nonprofits to help more people gain personal stability

Goodwill is investing $100,000 in local nonprofits to expand its impact in the tristate area. This will speed up Goodwill’s 10-year goal to move 10,000 people into stability. Goodwill will issue gift cards to local food banks, shelters, and others for the people they serve. New nonprofit partners this year include The Hospitality House, In Her Presence, University of Vermont Medical Center’s Employee and Family Assistance Program, Green Mountain United Way and United Way of Northwest Vermont- each receiving thousands of dollars in Goodwill gift cards, which they can give to their clients in need.

“We know when someone needs food or shelter, they need other support too – including Goodwill’s workforce services, which offers free career training and job placements,” said Barbara Sawyer, Volunteer & Community Partner Manager. “Goodwill moved more than 5,000 people into personal stability in the last five years through our healthcare and employment programs, but we know other nonprofits are helping people in just as much need in other ways. If we can support their work, we’ll help more people faster.”

This year’s investment is more than double last year’s, and is the most generous in Goodwill’s history.

“Goodwill’s leadership and generosity with this effort is inspiring. Yet, it’s not surprising to see nonprofits supporting one another,” said Jennifer Hutchins, Executive Director, Maine Association of Nonprofits. “It’s what nonprofits do when they’re at their best. They collaborate, innovate and build on each other’s strengths to address complex issues in our communities.”

The Partner Stability Fund is possible because of generous donors, corporate partners and shoppers at Goodwill stores who “round up” at the cash register. The program replaces an old paper voucher system, and replaces it with new gift cards for customer ease and dignity.

This year’s nonprofit partners include:

MAINE

• Bangor Housing Authority – Bangor Housing provides housing for low to moderate-income households. They operate 741 affordable and market-rate apartments in the greater Bangor area.
• Good Shepherd Food Bank – Good Shepherd distributes millions of meals to Mainers in need. Good Shepherd partners with more than 500 local organizations – food pantries, meal sites, schools and more.
• Hospitality House (new partner!) – The Hospitality House is Knox County Homeless Coalitions’ extended stay family shelter. The shelter provides a temporary home for up to 22 people, half of whom are usually children.
• In Her Presence (new partner!) – This nonprofit is for and by Immigrant women and their families. Programs center around English, job readiness, career exploration and education, wellbeing, childcare and parenting support, immediate needs (food, shelter, clothing) and community engagement.
• PENQUIS – Penquis works to alleviate and eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty. Penquis serves low and moderate-income people in Penobscot, Piscataquis and Knox counties.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

• CATCH Neighborhood Housing – Offers a full spectrum of housing and education services in Merrimack County. CATCH meets the needs of the communities it serves by constructing new affordable housing units and revitalizing existing housing in an area where affordable rental options are limited.
• Families in Transition (FIT) – FIT is one of the largest homeless services organizations in New Hampshire with locations in Manchester, Concord, Dover, and Wolfeboro. They provide innovative and effective interventions specifically designed to help homeless individuals and families reach beyond the cycle of homelessness to lead healthy and successful lives.

VERMONT

• Joint Urban Ministry Project (JUMP) – An interfaith organization supported by 28 area congregations in the Chittenden County region of Vermont. JUMP has been responding to the challenge of effectively assisting low-income families and individuals since 1988.
• Committee on Temporary Shelter – COTS has evolved over the years from emergency shelters to a focus on prevention and housing for those facing the crisis of homelessness.
• Green Mountain United Way (new partner!) – To tackle people’s barriers to employment United Way of Northwest Vermont, Green Mountain United Way, and other community partners joined forces and founded Working Bridges, a public-private, multi-sector employer collaborative. Through shared resources, employers are minimizing employment barriers for their low-to-moderate wage workers and maximizing the supports employees need to be successful and improve their lives.
• United Way of Northwest Vermont – Working Bridges understands that barriers such as childcare, reliable transportation and acute need for emergency financial assistance get in the way of continuous employment and derail good employees. This program helps with people’s long-term success.
• University of Vermont Medical Center Employee and Family Assistance Program (new partner!) – This no-cost counseling program helps UVM Medical Center employees effectively deal with personal problems, substance use issues and work-related problems that may impact job performance, mental and emotional wellbeing, and overall life satisfaction.

Goodwill Northern New England is a nonprofit social enterprise in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Our revenues fund our mission to invest in people who need support to achieve their work and life goals. Goodwill NNE’s programs include workforce training programs, 22 group homes that support adults with disabilities, active community supports for adults with disabilities, AmeriCorps programs, business-cleaning services, and Goodwill NNE operates two brain injury clinics to help people get back to their lives after a brain injury. Of course, our stores also embody our mission to support the Earth through re-use, while offering good jobs and free supports to all sorts of people. For more information visit GoodwillNNE.org.