Goodwill News: November 2021

Goodwill Amity was founded on September 27, 1935 and this fall we reflected on our history, celebrated the achievements of job seekers and employers in today’s challenging environment, and cast our eyes to the future.

15th Annual Power of Work Awards

Congratulations to our winners! On October 26th we gathered online to honour two individual job seekers – Shannon Duvall and Ryan Rohr – who overcame significant barriers to achieve their employment objectives, and one outstanding employer – Wendy’s Restaurants – who truly gives a hand up, not a hand out, to the Goodwill candidates they hire.

Watch the event from the link below if you missed it.

Make an Impact on Giving Tuesday

We’re carrying the momentum of the Power of Work into the holiday giving season, kicking off on November 30 with #GivingTuesday.
This year for #GivingTuesday donate to Goodwill Amity to give someone else a hand on their employment journey and make an impact in their lives.

Community Food: 75,000 Meals Served

During the pandemic Goodwill Amity’s Stairways Café transitioned to provide boxed meals to those experiencing food insecurity. Together with our partners St. Matthew’s House, CityHousing Hamilton, St. Patrick’s DeMazenod Door street outreach program, and Catholic Children’s Aid Society, we will have served over 75,000 meals to neighbours in need!

Thanks to the funders Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities, City of Hamilton, the Hamilton Community Foundation, and the United Way Halton and Hamilton.

Mission Moment

We’re always touched to hear back from clients about their experience with us. Here is what one job seeker had to say:

Thoughtful Gifting: Thrifting

Buying second hand is environmentally the right thing to do, it’s fun, and it can turn up truly unique treasures. When you shop at Goodwill, you’re also helping us generate proceeds that go back into our local community services.

Read more from this New York Times article.

Strategic Plan

At the end of November, the Goodwill Amity Board and Senior Leadership Team will meet to develop our next Strategic Plan. We have gathered statistics, trends, and other data so we make evidence-based decisions and we’ve sought input from stakeholders so we understand community needs. Goodwill Amity has played a key role in Hamilton and Halton and our new Plan will chart our course for the next five years.

Through and beyond the pandemic, we will continue to do everything we can to support individuals in finding meaningful work. We are grateful for your friendship in those efforts.