Spring is officially here and April is Earth Month! Did you know fast fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world after the fossil fuel industry and is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions? Especially this month we can all be part of the solution by donating and buying secondhand. While you’re doing spring cleaning, set aside a box to collect donations for Goodwill. Then come and shop at Goodwill for your new spring outfits!

Felix arrived in Canada from the Dominican Republic having built a successful career in management, engineering and lean processing roles in manufacturing. Like so many newcomers, Felix had to learn to “survive in a country where you don’t know anything or anyone, have only your savings and are forced to take the first job you can get to pay bills and help your family survive.”

Despite his background, Felix was unable to secure a job in his field as he needed related Canadian work experience – yet no one was giving him a chance to gain this experience. Felix took part in Goodwill’s Food and Beverage Manufacturing Program (now the Food and Beverage Accelerated Skills Training Program (FAST).

Goodwill Resource Hub at King William Career Centre

Visit Goodwill Amity’s Employment Centre at King William and you’ll find many resources including a fresh food fridge where neighbours in need can pick up fruits and vegetables (stocked by Food for Life) while accessing computers, printers, and employment support.

Making use of the many donations of books we receive, our Resource Hub, has recently added a free library, where people can take books they would enjoy. We also give books to community organizations who serve people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to reading material. Thank you to all our generous donors who are helping to ensure everyone has access to the pleasures of reading.

100 Teacups and Saucers for Women’s Day Tea

We were delighted to be invited by Burlington Ward 2 Councillor – and Goodwill shopper extraordinaire – Lisa Kearns, to provide 100 teacups and saucers for her Women’s Day Tea! We delivered the cleaned cups and helped set up. Councillor Kearns’ guests enjoyed the gathering, we picked up and cleaned them again, and got them back on our shelves for sale. Teamwork, community partnerships, and the circular economy – what a great way to celebrate International Women’s Day!

We work with Gravity Engineering for many of our repair and construction needs and as a business partner they attended our Power of Work Power Lunch event and fundraiser last November. They were so moved by our Award Winners’ stories (which you can watch here) they wanted to do more!

They launched an in-office drive to collect donated goods and delivered them to Goodwill this winter. Proceeds from the sale of those goods – and all goods donated to Goodwill – are reinvested in the free social services we provide to our communities in Hamilton and Halton. Thank you, Gravity Engineering!

Congratulations to Goodwill Honorees!

• Board Director Khadija Hamidu, who was nominated for YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards in 2023
• Directors Indira Naidoo-Harris and Carmela Trombetta, who were both named Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the national Women’s Executive Network (WSN) in late 2022
• CEO Kelly Duffin, who was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal last year for community service and leadership
• Employment Services Manager Mbuso Dandato (pictured here) who was given a medal by Toronto Police 13 Division and the British Methodist Episcopal Church in their Black History Month Awards Ceremony recognizing community heroes

www.goodwillonline.ca