Updates
News
Goodwill’s Maine stores now run on local solar power
April 17, 2023 Goodwill recently moved 12 of its stores and offices to solar power, with plans to move two more to solar power this year. The nonprofit is participating in two community solar farms, agreeing to buy solar energy for the next 10 years. This will account for 62 percent of the nonprofit’s energy use in Maine. “Sustainability is at the center of our work. Goodwill stores keep more…
News
After 46 years of working with people with disabilities, Larry Strout is retiring
April 10, 2023 When Larry Strout’s work-study college job turned into a full-time position at Goodwill NNE, he decided to stick it out until he figured out what he wanted to do with his life. That was nearly 46 years ago. Larry is a Director of Community Case Management and oversees case managers across Maine who work with people with disabilities. Larry has…
News
CEO Rich Cantz stepping down after 20 years with Goodwill NNE
March 29, 2023 Goodwill Northern New England’s President and CEO, Rich Cantz notified the Board of Directors of his decision to leave his role later this year after a 20-year career with the nonprofit. “Working for such an impactful organization has been a dream, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done. After two decades with Goodwill, it’s time for a change. It’s…
Success Stories
Doctors didn’t think Emma would walk again, now she runs and boxes at Goodwill NeuroRehab
March 13, 2023 In the summer of 2021, Emma Robbins got into a car accident. Doctors were unsure if Emma would survive. She drove her car off the road, and suffered from a traumatic brain injury on impact that she is still recovering from today. Since she was a teenager, Emma battled with drug and alcohol abuse and received treatment a few times. She…
News
NeuroFeedback helps clients with anxiety, depression, sleep, brain injury, more
March 7, 2023 Goodwill’s NeuroRehabilitation clinics have a new piece of technology that helps train people’s brains to be more flexible and efficient. NeuroFeedback helps treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, and more in a noninvasive way. It also can help healthcare staff diagnose autism, schizophrenia, brain injury, and more without relying solely on self-reported symptoms. “It can be difficult for a patient with a…
Success Stories
Carina, speech therapist, helps people after a brain injury
March 1, 2023 “Now that’s a cool job!” Carina Ream thought as she was reading an article about a speech therapist who helps actors on their accents for movies. She was student at the University of New Hampshire and was considering how to combine her love of English and science into a career. Ultimately, this led her to graduate school to become a speech…
News
What does Goodwill do in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont: Workforce, healthcare, other services
February 16, 2023 Goodwill NNE’s mission is to invest in people who need support to achieve their work and life goals. People like Ronnie who loves giggling and holding hands and Joey who is passionate about karate and green apples. It’s not easy explaining what Goodwill does, because with Homes, Lifeworks, Workforce, NeuroRehab and our other programs, we do so much. We wanted…
Success Stories
Jacob uses Goodwill’s in-home supports to help him live an adventurous life while blind
January 19, 2023 Jacob Allen can hit ski jumps, rock climb outdoors and rake in thousands of dollars in donations for important causes — but when it comes to things at home, he uses Margarita as his eyes. Jacob is blind due to a condition called bilateral anophthalmia, which means he was born without eyeballs. Because of his disability, Jacob receives in-home support…
Success Stories
From retail management to career advisor, Keeley’s successful career shift
January 10, 2023 “I found a career that makes me happy.”
Success Stories
Angie’s cerebral palsy left her with use of one hand, now she thrives in her job with coworkers who “feel like family”
December 28, 2022 Angie always dreamed of working in healthcare, but wasn’t sure what she could do as someone with Cerebral Palsy. Now, she’s the most independent she’s ever been thanks to her job as a food service worker. At Gray Birch Long Term Care in Augusta, Angie gets to help people everyday. She helps prepare food, set up for resident meals, stock…
News
Maine, NH nonprofits can get extra help; Goodwill expands AmeriCorps programs in 2023
December 28, 2022 Volunteerism levels are still below pre-pandemic levels and local nonprofits need help. This month Goodwill Northern New England opened applications for up to 100 new AmeriCorps “host sites” in Maine and New Hampshire. Nonprofits and municipalities can apply to get volunteer help from AmeriCorps members. These members can apply for grants, mentor young people, organize events, and otherwise add capacity…
Success Stories
Ashley transformed childhood challenges to stability and community leadership in Lewiston
December 6, 2022 “It was through my job at Goodwill I gained confidence, self-esteem and found my voice.”
Success Stories
After a battle with brain cancer, Meegan regains her abilities with help from Goodwill NeuroRehab in Maine
November 15, 2022 Meegan was a firefighter and EMT for 26 years before her cancer diagnosis. In 2016 she got sick, and a year later she discovered a tumor had metastasized from her lung to her brain. Metastasis is when a cancer cell breaks away from where it originally formed, travels through the body, and begins growing in a new place. Meegan had…
News, Success Stories
The Goodwill Awards celebrate the best of Goodwill
November 14, 2022 Across Goodwill NNE, there’s been a lot of hard work: Goodwill’s workforce participants learned skills and found lifelong careers, our employees supported our mission – be it at the donation door or in a group home – and Goodwill healthcare clients strived to become as independent as possible. We celebrate them all at this year’s annual award celebration. For 2022,…
Success Stories
Goodwill’s first Deaf employee, Peter Martineau, reflects on his 35-year career
October 18, 2022 Peter Martineau was the first Deaf employee hired to work with Deaf clients at Goodwill. He was young and it was his first gig, 35 years ago. As a young adult, he was still figuring out the basics like how to grocery shop and cook dinner on a budget. Funnily enough, those were the same skills he was teaching as…