Do you know about Goodwill’s hidden side??

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When you hear Goodwill, the first thing that comes to mind is thrift shop. A place to donate and shop for gently used items. Do you know anything about the hidden side of Goodwill? Before participating in a media tour of the hidden side of Goodwill, the only other thing I knew besides shopping/donating, was that they hire folks with disabilities.

A group of us bloggers got to take a tour of the Milgard Work Opportunity Center, which is right here in Downtown Tacoma it is a school house that serves 9,800 unemployed with training/job placement programs.

Goodwill uses thrift store revenue, community support, and their training campuses to provide career skills, other education and job placement in a variety of fields. As a unique nonprofit business serving 15 counties, thrift shop revenue, and public donations fuel programs that help people with limited income, disablities and disadvatages overcome barriers to employment. This year Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region will help 9800 people with key skills and contacts to become indepedent selfsupporting citizens with a higher quality of life. Of these, more than 2,800 people will be offered jobs including office, culiary, contruction barista, catering, retail, custodial, warehouse, transportation and logistics careers thanks to partnerships with 1,300 companies across Washington. These career development and placement services are funded through generous financial gifts, grants, fees, commercial services and the operation of 37 thrift stores(including the online store) throughout the western, southwest and central Washington operations.

Programs and resources they offer adults, youth and seniors include but not limited to;

Women to Work support services for single mothers and their families!
Financial Education build your personal financial stability and independence.
M.A.T.H. Center (Ages 16+) up your math skills for school, work, play & life. (I am horrible at math, so this center would be perfect for me!!)
Culinary Skills Training hands-on and classroom culinary training for entry-level food service jobs.
Barista Training learn espresso techniques and cafe operations in a real-world setting.
Computer & Office Skills Training earn your computer and office skills certification in 10 weeks!
General Education Degree Program
Warehouse & Logistics Training 
Youth Build which provides young people(16-24) the opportunity to work towards their GED while learning job skills in the construction trades.
Job Resource Room personalized service to assist you in your job search, information on Goodwill programs and community resources
REACH Center for youth

To find out more about what Goodwill has to offer, visit goodwillwa.org and/or visit the Milgard Work Opportunity Center located 714 S. 27th Street, Tacoma WA 98409

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If you’re interested in seeing how the students are learning first hand, you can actually stop into either of the barista training centers and enjoy a cup of coffee. Or enjoy lunch at the culinary training center!

Milgard Work Opportunity Center
714 S. 27th Street, Tacoma
Hours:
Mon-Thur 7am – 4pm
Fri 7am – 3pm
Sat & Sun closed

Hilltop Regional Health Center
1202 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma
Hours:
Mon-Fri 7am – 2:30pm
Sat & Sun closed

Milgard Work Opportunity Center
714 S. 27th Street, Tacoma
Hours:
Mon – Fri, 11am-1pm

Last but not least, I’m sure you’ve probably visited an actual physical store but did you know Goodwill has an online store? It’s easy to shop and you can find some amazing items/treasures.

Disclaimer: I received product, however I wasn’t required to post and all opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

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