Kim’s behind-the-scenes look at Goodwill
We want to thank our blog readers, friends and supporters for your thoughts and condolences about our recent fire at the South Blvd. Goodwill retail store and donation center. For an update about our recovery efforts, please click here. The best way you can help us at this time is to donate to any of our other 30 local donation centers. Thank you Charlotte!
Kim
I was invited to take a tour of the Goodwill offices and training facilities late last year. Honestly, I jumped at the chance to sneak a peek into the behind-the-scenes action of the organization that is a part of my life in so many ways.
I have been a Goodwill donator for years. I make a regular habit of sweeping through my house for no longer used items. Having a rapidly growing son made this a frequent occurrence in my household, whether it be clothes, toys or even household products as I have fine-tuned my design style.
Goodwill's "mission lockup" graphic helps illustrate how donations make an impact
These days, not a week goes by where I don’t visit at least one to three different Goodwill locations. No longer am I just donating, but I’m now shopping or looking for inspiration for my bi-monthly blog posts for Wow! Goodwill.
Whereas I always felt great about donating “experienced” items to Goodwill, I have to say it was enlightening to learn not only about how Goodwill uses their proceeds from the sale of donations but also see in person what the operation looks like.
The timing of this visit, ironically, coincided closely to when I found myself out of work. I am fortunate enough to where my chosen career path allotted me a generous severance package, which included career counseling. In these hard times, this added benefit is even more valuable. But not everyone has this luxury. Goodwill fills this need in the community and then some.
Goodwill volunteer Elizabeth Cobb helps out a banking student
Taking a step back, there are few facts that I learned that I wanted to share. Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont’s mission statement is “Changing Lives Through the Power of Work.” Did you know that 90 cents of every dollar that Goodwill collects goes towards their training programs? The remaining 10 cents funds funds the salaries and administrative/operational expenses of the organization. The Career Development Center on Freedom Drive houses numerous resources for job seekers, including training programs in the areas of Banking/Customer Service, Hospitality/Tourism and Construction Skills.
They also have a Youth Services program which provides various soft skills training to youth, including a mentoring program as well as a program customized to serve a sector that has at least one barrier to employment. It doesn’t stop there. There is a Vocational Skills training program, as well as Operation Independence. OI is dedicated to helping military veterans and their families make the transition to civilian employment. More information on all of these programs can be found at www.goodwillsp.org.
There are several ways you can contribute to Goodwill:
Taking your kids to Goodwill is a great way to teach them about donating!
Donate. All donated goods are tax deductible. Its a win-win.
Purchase. If you read Wow! Goodwill you will find a ton of inspiration for what you can find and do with your Goodwill purchases, for anything from home decor to keeping up with the latest fashion trends.
My hope is that most people who donate and/or shop at Goodwill know how the organization utilizes the funds generated from donations. But if you learned something today, I hope it encourages you to donate/shop even more.
Happy Goodwill Hunting!
Students gather before checking out HBCU Awareness and Career Day
On Tuesday, Feb. 21, we hosted our second annual Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Awareness and Career Day for students from the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program and our Youth Services division.
The purpose of the event was to expose students to the unique academic and career opportunities offered by HBCUs, which have a long history of serving African-American communities through rigorous academics and strong civil rights legacies.
The event featured guest speaker Marques Douglas, retired NFL player for the Tennessee Titans & founder of the Marques Douglas Foundation. Students also heard from Janine Davis of Girl Talk Foundation and participated in a career tracking session.
Representatives from several HBCUs were available to answer questions about their institutions. The cheerleaders from Johnson C. Smith University also made a guest appearance!
Click here to view photos from Tuesday’s event!
Cherisse Miller, a student who has been involved in our GoodGuides mentoring program for almost two years, had the privilege of introducing Marques Douglas. Here’s what she had to say about the experience:
Cherisse Miller introduces Marques Douglas
“All the speakers we have met through GoodGuides have made an impact in my life. They have made me want to further my education as well as better myself as a person. Introducing Mr. Marques Douglas was such an incredible honor, although I was extremely nervous! I enjoyed introducing someone who has made an impact in his community as well as the world.
Everything he said spoke right to me, and I soon realized that I must get my act together because I have many things that I love and want to do. The one thing that spoke to me the most throughout this event was that I must have a PASSION for what I do and what I would like to do, because that is the driving force and what should motivate you.”
Although the student bodies of these institutions are traditionally black, HBCUs encourage students from different backgrounds and cultures to join them.
The HBCU Awareness and Career Day was part of our ongoing commitment to helping changes lives through the power of work. We’re so excited to be partnered with the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program and we can’t wait to see our young people succeed in a career path and in their lives!
Remember, it’s through your support that we can offer programs like Youth Services to help local families combat the cycle of poverty and find success in the power of work. Thank you for your support!
Did you attend an HBCU or other institution? What career advice do you have for our youth?
Guest Post: Living History The Goodwill Way
Rachel
My son Nathan chose Ben Franklin for his third grade living history project. I thought that was a great choice until I realized that “he” (translation: me) would have to put together a costume, which would count for part of the grade.
He tends to stress a little, and I kept assuring him that his mama had the costume covered. He was doing Google searches, showing me pictures, making sure I was on track. “I got this dude — don’t worry,” I told him.
Cut to the Friday before project was due, and there I was at the Cornelius Goodwill, scrambling to find the makings of the perfect Ben Franklin costume.
Thank goodness the living history gods were smiling upon me! My haul included:
Pair of children’s khaki pants $2.49
Men’s tuxedo shirt, $3.99
Women’s 2-piece outfit (shssshhh! Don’t tell!): $7.49
I needed a vest, but came up empty handed in the kids and men’s department, so I looked in women’s, where I found the perfect vest — a mandarin collar, brown paisley number that was paired with a matching skirt. The skirt is destined for my daughter’s dress up pile and the vest fits my 8-year-old wonderfully.
I turned the khakis into Ben-esque bloomers by cutting them off mid-calf, rolling them up and sewing elastic into the cuffs. Same for the oversized shirt — we cut off the sleeves, rolled up and I sewed hair elastics into the cuffs to make the sleeves blousy.
A small throw pillow under a T-shirt gave ol’ Ben his gut, and the colonial mullet is all Party City (we had to improvise again — they were out of old man wigs, so we used a bald cap with a long beard super-glued to the back). A pair of granny glasses also from Party City finished off the retro look.
All told, the outfit cost less than $30, including hair and props. And there’s no way any other Living History participant will look just like my little Ben Franklin!
Thanks Rachel! What about our readers? Anyone used Goodwill finds to create costumes for plays, parties or dress-up?
It’s Open House for the Goodwill/Habitat ReHouse!
We are thrilled to announce that the Goodwill/Habitat ReHouse will be open this weekend for public tours! As you may remember, we have been working with Habitat and a wonderful team of partners and sponsors to rehab, remake and repurpose a home in Villa Heights for a Habitat Charlotte family.
After the home was donated to Habitat by the City of Charlotte last year, we reached out to inquire about on-the-job training opportunities for students in our Construction and Green Jobs training program. The house turned into a perfect collaboration for training and for education – not just for our students but for the entire Charlotte community!
The ReHouse is also the launch of our newest business venture – Goodwill Construction Services. 
We’re now a fully licensed general contractor available for hire! Not only do our business ventures help fund our much-needed job training programs, but they also provide on-the-job training opportunities and employment opportunities for our students. It’s a win-win! Click here to find out more about Goodwill Construction Services.
Are you a Charlotte resident with questions about energy efficiency? Want to save money on your utility bills or learn about how you can better protect your home? The ReHouse is open this weekend just for you! Here are all the details:
Who: City of Charlotte leadership, Lowe’s, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, Villa Heights Community Organization will join Habitat and Goodwill officials
What: ReHouse ribbon cutting and Open House
When: Saturday, Feb. 17, at 10:00am
Where: 2420 Barry Street, in Charlotte’s Villa Heights community
Visuals: Photo opportunities of City and business leaders, volunteers, and future homeowner family
For more information, visit www.rehousecharlotte.com
Guest Post: The Slip Dress
Amanda
I have been in love with vintage slips for quite awhile now. They’re so romantic, feminine, and flirty – a perfect look for Valentine’s Day. But instead of hiding these lovely designs underneath a dress, why not wear them on the outside, as a dress? Now that just might really wow your sweetie on February 14th!
I am amazed by the many details put into a design that is intended to be worn under clothing and seen by only you and perhaps that someone special. To me, that seems like a little bit of a waste. The slip dress, itself, is a classic style that never goes away, and I see no better way to wear it than literally… a slip worn as a dress! Back in 2010, I wrote about wearing vintage slips as skirts, but the same thing can be done with full slips.
Below are a look at a few lovely slips I found while browsing Etsy to inspire you to dig a little deeper on your thrifting trips. Most of the slips in my own collection have come from Goodwill, and the colors and varieties available are wide-ranging.
Even if there is a specific color you’d really love to add to your wardrobe that you haven’t been able to find, you can buy something in white or cream with beautiful details and then hand-dye it using a packet of your favorite color from the craft store.
Use my tips below for wearing a true slip dress, and have fun incorporating this inexpensive and overlooked fashion into your wardrobe:
1. Don’t let the lace stop you from leaving the house! Since many slips are almost or completely sheer in some areas, double up with another plain, neutral slip underneath.
2. If you want to feel more covered, all you need is a cute cardigan or shrug to cover your shoulders. While you’re at Goodwill, look around for a cardigan or shrug – most of them are priced under $4!
3. Accessorizing your slip will make it feel more like any other dress from your wardrobe. You can add a belt, a statement necklace or vintage jewelry to bring the look together. Depending on the weather, try out boots or strappy sandals. Either one will work great!
Happy Valentine’s Day and happy thriting!
PHOTO SOURCES
SLIP 01: Yeye! Design and Vintage Bottique
SLIPS 02 (clockwise from top left):
- Eratic Static Vintage Boutique
- Shrinkle
Guest Post: Rehab, renew, repurpose
Rachel
Chez Sutherland has been a busy beehive of home improvement lately. Maybe that’s to make up for those seven or so years where the house sat virtually untouched.
Best not to question, just celebrate and hope that the creative redecorating trend continues until all rooms are freshened.
Right now, the kitchen is the focus, specifically the clutter. Our family of four 
spends a bunch of time in the bright blue room doing kitchen stuff like cooking and eating, but also passing through.
You need to walk through our kitchen to get from the mudroom to the rest of the house. That means that backpacks are emptied there, mail is deposited on the counter, permission slips and forms are haphazardly attached to the calendar with little regard for actual order.
No lie, for YEARS I have been planning to reuse the original shutters we took off our 1940s house. I wouldn’t let my husband get rid of them. I didn’t have a concrete plan, so there they sat in the basement, glaring at me in their chippy, spiderwebby way, taunting me with their lack of attention.
Until last month. I finally found (made?) time to complete a DIY project I clipped from a magazine a few years ago. I extracted a shutter from the cast-offs pile, dug out my palm sander and went to town. I loosened excess paint, smoothed a few edges and got to painting.
I used the table saw to cut pegboard to fit the back of the shutter, attaching with brackets. My husband mounted the shutter organizer to our kitchen wall with larger brackets, and just for good measure, finished with large lugnut screws for a little rough shine.
Gone are the piles of papers and chip clips full of takeout menus — it’s all on the wall. The result? With very little investment and a little creativity, an unwanted item got new life by helping me organize my life!
What have you redone, repurposed and reused lately? Have you started any “spring cleaning” projects?
Need some inspiration for a weekend project? Check out the many ideas we have collected on our GoodwillSP “ideas and inspiration” board on Pinterest!
Melissa Oyler: Goodwill convert!
Melissa Oyler is a local graphic designer, a self-described poet, novelist, organizer, clean freak and marathon runner. However, Melissa is not a thrift shopper. That is, until she stopped by our new Ballantyne Goodwill location.
We read Melissa’s account about her first visit to Goodwill, and asked her if we could share her story with our readers. Read below for Melissa’s own words about how she became a Goodwill convert.
Melissa Oyler - Goodwill convert
Ballantyne Goodwill: a great new place for bargains
I’m not a Goodwill shopper. Mostly because I’m not a patient shopper. I can’t stand stores like TJ Maxx or Marshalls simply because you have to really invest some time and energy into finding good clothes. I much prefer Express or Old Navy or somewhere else that knows what I like and has it in every size, shape and color imaginable.
So, the news that a Goodwill opened its doors in Ballantyne shouldn’t have appealed to me as a shopper. It makes me happy in the sense that I don’t have to drive as far to donate old items, or if I want to go looking for a Halloween costume or something, but regular, everyday shopping? No thank you.
However, when WCNC posted on Facebook about the brand-name bargains one of their employees found at Goodwill, I was intrigued.
I had a little extra time between errands and a meeting yesterday, and I was driving right past it anyway. Might as well stop in, right?
Well, I and every other resident of the Charlotte area clearly had the same idea. The parking lot was full. Cars were parked along the side of the road. I would have just turned around and hightailed it out of the madness right then, except a car happened to pull out of a genuine space right as I was pulling up, so I snagged it and went inside.
And oh, the mania. This is what I hate about bargain shopping, yard sales, big sales. People everywhere. Lines to the back of the store for those wanting to check out. Shopping carts blocking aisles. But my eye caught the shoe rack at the front of the store, so I made a cursory walk past.
And found two pairs of shoes that caught my eye. Both happened to be in my size. Both barely showing wear. And at $3.99 a pair, I snatched them up. It didn’t hurt that one pair was bright pink, the color of my hair.
Grabbed a basket, took a deep breath, and headed into the women’s section. I didn’t have time (or patience) to search through everything. But luckily, things were color coordinated. I want to add more blue, purple, green to my wardrobe to offset my hair, so I headed straight for those colors. I looked through the dresses and skirts, too. And I found clothes I recognized from the stores – maybe a season or two old, but not much more than that. And all in great shape. Brand names I love – Express, Limited. I loaded up my basket and headed for the dressing room.
At the end of my try-on session, I ended up with the following at the register:
One pair of Gap low-rise curvy jeans ($4.99)
One Banana Republic sleeveless shirt ($3,99)
One hoodie from Aeropostale ($3.99)
A pair of shoes from Nina ($3.99)
A pair of shoes from Michael Shannon ($3.99)
So, just for fun, I did a quick search to see what these items are worth in the stores right now.
Gap jeans: $69.95
Banana Republic top: $69.50 on sale for $29.99 for comparable style
Aeropostale hoodie: $29.50 on sale for $14.75 for comparable style
Nina shoes: $79 on the cheap end for comparable style
Michael Shannon shoes: I did have a hard time finding these, but this site mentions they are worth $62 retail for a new pair
So, accounting for sale prices, this would be a grand total of: $255.69 + tax in the store!
And guess what I paid at Goodwill? A whopping $20.95 + tax. For all this:
Goodwill shopper? I may have just been converted.
Thanks, Melissa, for letting us share your shopping story! The best part is, 90 cents out of every dollar that is spent at any of our Goodwill stores goes to help people in our own community through job training and employment programs.
Share Melissa’s story and help us spread the word – thrifting is good for your wallet, good for the environment and good for our community.
Thank you!
Round-Up: Repurposed Jewelry Tutorials
Amanda
I hope that my recent feature on the upcycled jewelry creations of Laura Florence Designs inspired you to see what’s inside the jewelry counter at Goodwill in a new light. Laura proves that new life can always be given to an old piece of jewelry. Now, here are a few specific tutorials so that you can upcycle your own thrifted finds into a new fashion accessory.
1. Martha Stewart provides a list of easy tricks for turning costume jewelry into more modern accessories. From pinning a brooch onto a swath of velvet ribbon to create a bracelet to attaching a bracelet to a longer piece of ribbon to make a belt, these ideas can be accomplished by even the most inexperienced crafter.
courtesy of Martha Stewart - bracelet to belt!
2. A bow makes everything better! Ruffles & Stuff provides some jewelry-making basics for creating your own customized necklace. You can combine chains and baubles from your thrifted finds using some of her techniques, but for a really easy fix, just find a basic chain necklace at Goodwill and tie on some bows with a pretty ribbon.
courtesy of Ruffles & Stuff - JCrew-inspired necklace tutorial
3. You can even make a watch more fun with this tutorial from 3 Sweet P’s. Instead of passing up a watch with a weathered, old band at Goodwill, just take the watch face and attach it to a lovely piece of fabric that you braid yourself. This blogger got inspiration from a watch she saw at Anthropologie for $68, but you can make your creation using Goodwill goodies for just a few bucks.
An anthropologie-inspired watch from the 3 Sweet P's
Have fun treasure hunting at your local Goodwill, and if you’re inspired to upcycle one of your finds into a one-of-a-kind accessory, be sure and share it with us in our Flickr photo pool, Goodwill Hunting.
Thanks, Amanda! You always know how to inspire us to get crafty. We want to know, readers: Have you ever upcycled a piece of jewelry you found at Goodwill?
A Goodwill for Ballantyne!
An interior shot of the new Ballantyne Goodwill
Tomorrow, we are opening the doors to our newest Goodwill Center in Ballantyne! The new retail store and donation center, located at 16025 Lancaster Highway, is the 21st store in our region. We couldn’t be more excited to become part of the Ballantyne community.
We would love to have you join us for tomorrow’s festivities. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 8:30 a.m., followed by music, giveaways and other festivities from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Doors will open to the public at 9:00 a.m. and shoppers will have a chance every hour to win a $250 US Airways gift card.
Goodwill mascot Smiling G will join Charlotte Checkers’ mascot “Chubby” to greet our shoppers, pose for fan photos and give away tickets to future Checkers games.
The Ballantyne Goodwill Center will employ 20-25 people and generate approximately $500,000 in wages and sales taxes paid per year. Normal store hours will be:
Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Proceeds from the sale of donated items at Goodwill’s retail stores fund the organization’s job training and employment programs that assist thousands of our neighbors every year. Ninety cents of every dollar spent at Goodwill helps with funding these programs.
Thank you for shopping at Goodwill! Are you planning to visit us at our Ballantyne location?
Sneak Peek: Spring fashion trend hit list
Rachel
It’s barely winter, and I’m already focused on spring. I’m not alone — fashion magazines and retails stores are rolling out the gauzy sweaters, sandals and sweet summer dresses.
I’m not purchasing just yet, but evaluating what I’ve got that will work in the coming season and also identifying which trends I’m going to judiciously incorporate into my wardrobe.
Here’s what’s on my hit list for spring 2012. And of course, I’m going to start my search at Goodwill.
Athletic: Boxy cuts, mesh and Flashdance-inspired sweatshirts? Heck yeah. Sporty elements are playful and a little tough at the same time.
Ladylike: Peplums, flower power, ruffles and pussycat bows work well for me in small doses.
Boardwalk Empire: I can’t do a dropped waist, but I am sucker for muted colors, sheer and lace-like embellishment often spotted on HBO’s crazy popular show “Boardwalk Empire,” set in Atlantic City during prohibition.
Safari: Clearly, this “trend” is moving out of that territory and straight into staple category. Safari-inspired fashion has been strong for the past few seasons, and this year, it takes on a vaguely tribal, stripe-heavy influence.
What has piqued your interest for Spring 2012? What seasonal on-trend items have you found at Goodwill?
Thank you, Rachel! We can’t wait to sneak a peek at what might be available at this weekend’s grand opening of our newest store in Ballantyne! Click here for all the details.
