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The City of Gastonia recently launched GoGastonia, a new on-demand microtransit service that is replacing six fixed bus routes. On-demand microtransit provides a similar convenience to private rideshare services, allowing riders to book and pay for on-demand rides online or by phone – for the same cost as public transit.

SET UP YOUR ACCOUNT WITH GOODWILL & GET 10 RIDES FREE!

We’re partnering with the City of Gastonia to help you get started. Join us at the Gastonia Career Center (116 Armstrong St.) on Wednesday, July 17, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., where we’ll help you set up your GoGastonia account, show you how to book rides, explain the service area and costs, and more. Plus, new accounts set up during the event will get their first 10 rides free!

Sign up below to attend one of four breakout sessions:

HOW TO ATTEND:

BACK TO SCHOOL

It’s hard to believe that another school year is right around the corner, and families are preparing to send their kids back to school for another year of learning, development, friendship and fun. We know that shopping for the school year ahead can be daunting, but stocking up on back-to-school items doesn’t have to be costly! Visit your local Goodwill to browse its affordable collection of children’s clothing, shoes, accessories, school supplies and more!

AFFORDABLE ESSENTIALS

RECENTLY SPOTTED IN OUR STORES

LOOK GOOD, DO GOOD

Visit your local Goodwill to browse its collection of back-to-school must-haves. And remember, your purchases do good! The money we make from selling donated goods in our stores funds career training programs, job search support, family stability services and more – all of which we offer free of charge to thousands of people in our community each year, including our own Goodwill team members.

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (GISP) is announcing its participation in the newly formed “Beyond the Cliff” Coalition. This Coalition is a first-of-its-kind national collaborative of nonprofits, state and local governments, and collaborative stakeholders focused on helping families achieve economic prosperity and specifically eliminating the benefits cliff. The benefits cliff describes the experience that millions of low-income families face when they increase earnings only to face an abrupt loss in public assistance which leaves them worse off financially.

While GISP is a leading workforce development nonprofit and works hard to create access to promising careers for individuals, the organization is aware of the challenges many team members face, and is working to address those obstacles for its team and community through an effort called the Benefits Cliff Community Lab.

GISP already leads a regional coalition of organizations advocating for policies that address benefits cliffs and aid workers in career progression and businesses in hiring and retaining talent. The coalition aims to change the narrative and provide solutions for individuals and families seeking prosperity. They also provide employers with resources on evidence-based practices, programs, and policies designed to mitigate the impact of the benefits cliff and drive upward economic mobility.

“Goodwill is committed to building pathways that help people pursue the life they want to achieve, and that includes our own team members. As we continue to increase wages for our team members, we are committed to finding solutions to address the impact of benefits cliffs and remove as many obstacles as possible so they can prosper and thrive,” said Chris Jackson, President & CEO, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont.

Recently, GISP, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Freedom Communities and Atrium Health presented to the Joint Legislative Economic Development and Global Engagement Committee at the North Carolina General Assembly about addressing the benefits cliff. Together they shared about the importance of addressing the benefits cliffs and the positive impact it can have for North Carolina workers and their families – and for businesses. They proposed the committee establish a legislative task force to come up with solutions to the benefits cliff.

Brittany Birken, Community and Economic Development Director and Principal Adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta*, studies the impact of benefit cliffs on individuals and communities and served in an advisory capacity in the formation of this collaborative. She said, “Bringing together these innovative efforts to address the benefits cliff has the potential to identify the solutions needed to increase family economic mobility, meet employers’ talent needs, and ensure that the economy is working for everyone.”

The Coalition is being led by Martha O’Bryan Center with funding support from Kresge Foundation. The inaugural members of the Coalition include:

In addition, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) will serve in an advisory capacity.

“At Martha O’Bryan, we seek solutions to the root causes of poverty.  We are very excited about leading this coalition focused on eliminating the benefits cliff. As an antipoverty organization, we believe families can rise out of poverty in one generation. We recognize that that has not been true in all places for all people. Solving this issue is an important step toward expanding the landscape of opportunity for all families,” Marsha Edwards CEO & President, Martha O Bryan Center.

Are you looking for work with purpose in Southeast Charlotte? Would you like to be in the business of creating a brighter future for people in our community? Then Goodwill is the place for you! We’re hosting an upcoming hiring event for both management and frontline positions at our retail store on Sardis Road. 

HOW OUR STORES SUPPORT OUR MISSION

The money we make from selling donated goods in our retail stores funds job training courses, job search support, family stability services and more – all of which we offer free of charge to thousands of people in our community each year. In fact, you may know someone who is well on their way to a brighter future after accessing our programs and services. Simply put, our retail stores fund our mission.

PAY & BENEFITS

As a Goodwill team member, you not only get to do meaningful work, but you also receive great benefits and competitive pay – with frontline team members starting at $15/hour. In addition to great benefits (like comprehensive health insurance, vacation and sick pay), team members also receive access to free career development and job training programs, opportunities for career advancement and more.

Beginning Monday, June 10, 2024, the intersection at Bryant Farms Road and Elm Lane will be closed for construction. Shoppers and donors may need to take alternate routes to visit Goodwill’s Ballantyne – East store and Bryant Farms Road donation drop-off center while the City completes the Bryant Farms Road Extension project.

Please use caution and follow construction signage through the area. The City expects this project will be complete in August of 2024. Thank you for continuing to support Goodwill!

Summer is just around the corner, and you know what that means—vacations, beach days and sunshine! To help you step into the season with style, we’re thrilled to announce our upcoming #StyledbyStacee pop-up event. Upgrade your wardrobe with thrifted trendy outfits perfect for every sunny adventure you’ve got planned.

Wardrobe Stylist & Fashion Insider Stacee Michelle shopped the GW boutique and selected tons of brand-name and trendy summer pieces perfect for your next vacation. From airy fabrics and vibrant-colored outfits to accessories like beach bags, sunglasses and sandals, there’s something for everyone at Stacee’s specially curated pop-up shop.

TRENDY VACATION LOOKS

ACCESSORIES & SWIM

Shop all of these items and so much more at the quarterly #StyledbyStacee pop-up shop Friday, July 5 – Sunday, July 7 at GW boutique. Doors open at 10 a.m.

Stay connected on social media for more style tips from @itsStaceeMichelle and the latest Goodwill happenings @goodwillsp on Instagram and TikTok!

SEAS THE DAY

Seas the day by shopping at Goodwill for all your summer must-haves! From swimsuits and cover-ups to pool floats and coolers, you can find everything you need for some fun in the sun at your local Goodwill. By shopping at Goodwill, not only will you rack up on great finds without breaking the bank, you’ll also do good for our community and planet!

GREAT FINDS IN STORES NOW

MORE SUMMER MUST-HAVES

YOUR DONATIONS & PURCHASES DO GOOD

GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Your donations and purchases do big things for our community! The money we make from selling donated items in our stores is what pays for the job training programs, job search support and family stability services that we offer completely free of charge to thousands of people in our community each year, including our very own team members

GOOD FOR OUR PLANET

Goodwill stores play a big part in the circular economy, which is a system that keeps products in circulation for as long as possible. Goodwill helps communities extend the life of usable items, which reduces the amount of material sent to landfills or incinerators. Last year, we sold more than 17 million items in our stores and online shops – giving them a second chance.

The locally owned business, Food Geeks, now operates a new restaurant inside the nonprofit’s Goodwill Opportunity Campus.

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is happy to announce that local restauranteur Food Geeks has opened a new restaurant venture inside the Goodwill Opportunity Campus, located at 5301 Wilkinson Boulevard in Charlotte.  

The restaurant, Good Food by Food Geeks, is a locally owned, family-run business offering “comfort food the Brooklyn way,” inspired by owner Terrence Burns’ upbringing in New York City. Good Food offers made-to-order, quality comfort food, in addition to grab-and-go offerings, quick snacks and treats, a coffee bar, and hot buffet lunch specials. Standout meu items include the Saratoga Salmon BLT Sandwich and Salad, Smothered Chicken and Grits, Smash Burgers, Smoked Jamaican Jerk Chicken, and Sweet Potato Chicken and Waffles.

Both Good Food and Goodwill share values of connecting and supporting community – with the Good Food team looking forward to not only offering delicious food, but also community events such as meet-ups, lunch and learns, open mic nights and more.  

“I’m excited for the new move and partnership with Goodwill,” says Terrence Burns, owner of Food Geeks. “It gives the Food Geeks brand a space to shine and provide some of the best comfort food this region has experienced, and most of all execute our vision of creating a space for food, family and fellowship.” 

“We were intentional about selecting a vibrant locally owned business in our community to operate in the restaurant space in this fantastic location,” said Jose Luis, Chief Operating Officer for Goodwill industries of the Southern Piedmont. “Food Geeks is a well-respected organization in the Charlotte community that aligns with the mission and values of Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont. The Goodwill Opportunity Campus was created as a place where people could see possibilities, seize opportunities, and prosper. With Good Food on campus, we are excited for Food Geeks to inspire possibilities and create opportunities for members of the community to come together in fellowship over some delicious offerings.”  

The restaurant space, which formerly housed Community Table Bistro, was established in 2016 to address the food desert along the Wilkinson Boulevard corridor, and to support the vision for the Goodwill Opportunity Campus. The state-of-the-art facility in west Charlotte provides the area’s most comprehensive collection of resources and opportunities for individuals seeking to advance their careers and improve their lives. The Goodwill Opportunity Campus houses Goodwill career services and training programs, as well as other nonprofit partners to support community members on their pathways to prosperity.  

The Goodwill Opportunity Campus offers several event, conference and meeting spaces available to rent, now with catering offerings provided by Good Food. 

This is the third locally owned restaurant or food business Goodwill has introduced in its facilities in recent years. The nonprofit added locally owned café’s, Salty Bean and Big Red’s, inside their concept stores in Rockingham and Shelby in 2022.   

BLOSSOM INTO STYLE

As nature bursts into bloom and the days are getting longer and warmer ( ), now’s the perfect time to freshen up your wardrobe with a few secondhand pieces perfect for springtime. Whether you’re looking to add vibrant florals or soft pastels to your ensemble, our retail stores are sure to have something for you at an affordable price.

GREAT FINDS IN STORES NOW

MORE THAN A THRIFT STORE

GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY: Your donations and purchases do big things for our community! The revenue we generate from selling donated items in our stores is what pays for the job training programs, job search support and family stability services that we offer completely free of charge to thousands of people in our community each year, including our very own team members.

GOOD FOR OUR PLANET: Goodwill stores play a big part in the circular economy, which is a system that keeps products in circulation for as long as possible. Goodwill helps communities extend the life of usable items, which reduces the amount of material sent to landfills or incinerators. Last year, we sold more than 17 million items in our stores and online shops – giving them a second chance.

TITLE INSPIRATION

We couldn’t help but title this blog post the way we did. It’s a quote from the 2006 movie The Devil Wears Prada. Take a look at Meryl Streep delivering the iconic statement here.

Goodwill® Industries of the Southern Piedmont is pleased to welcome Jennifer De La Jara as Director of Philanthropy. 

In this role, De La Jara will be responsible for leading the nonprofit’s philanthropic initiatives and fundraising efforts, as well as implementing strategies to secure financial support from donors, foundations, corporations, and other sources that align with Goodwill’s strategic plan. 

Recently, she has held the positions of Director of Education at International House and Director of Workforce Development at the Charlotte Bilingual Preschool while also serving a four-year term on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education from 2019-2023 as an At-Large Member. In 2023, De La Jara was named a Hunt Institute State Policy Fellow, and she was named Non-Latin Person Most Supportive of the Latino Community at La Noticia’s Excelente Awards in 2022. 

De La Jara shared, “I am beyond excited to be joining the team at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, building upon the strong foundation of such a respected organization. My career and my life have always had a common theme rooted in community building, whether that was in education, immigrant-integration efforts or workforce development. I’m honored to become the new Director of Philanthropy where I can continue my community building path by lifting the significant impact of GISP’s work to our greater community, inviting them to join us as we climb to new levels.” 

Welcome to the Goodwill family, Jennifer De La Jara!