(Left) Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette Public Relations Manager Hayley Platt | Photo by Simon Mather — (Right) Goodwill store in Bend | Photo courtesy of Goodwill)
Refurbished Store adds Careers Center to Help Individuals Achieve Work Goals
Bend’s primary Goodwill store has undergone a major remodel that not only promotes bargain shopping but provides free educational opportunities to help individuals enter the workforce and live independently.
The retail store at 61315 S Highway 97 received a comprehensive facelift before its recent grand reopening — including new signage, flooring, lighting and exterior concrete sidewalks — but also saw the creation of a dedicated on-site “job solutions” center offering the chance to advance valuable skills.
Most consumers are familiar with Goodwill retail stores, but many may not be aware that this household brand’s underlying mission is to help people reach their potential through job training & development and other services that help them improve their personal circumstances.
Director of Vocational Services David Miller said, “The newly refreshed Goodwill store in Bend has more than bargain clothing, furniture and books; you can now also take classes designed to help achieve personal and professional goals.
“We’ve always had our job connection offices, and now we are offering our career center additionally as a complementary match to be able to really prepare an individual for getting trained and finding employment in a community.”
Goodwill’s Job Connections program is open to the public with services including job search assistance, workshops, job leads, computer resources, job fairs and referrals to both Goodwill programs and community partners. Experienced Employment Specialists are available to provide encouragement, and work with each individual to help identify skills, experience and interests and obtain job leads in the community.
To reinforce that aim, the new Bend training and development base offers community classes in essential skills such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace and computer basics, taught by certified instructor Haley McCormick.
Goodwill PR Manager Hayley Platt added, “Career advancement is a major goal of ours, and we have been in the Central Oregon community for over 20 years, including adding a Redmond location in 2013.
“Our in-house Microsoft-certified instructor can help give people more confidence in developing hard and soft skills benefitting work prospects.
“Instruction includes critical thinking and problem-solving, and these new educational opportunities can help successfully prepare individuals for the workplace.”
Goodwill also offers assistance to help those looking to become U.S. citizens prepare to take the necessary tests. Bend’s instructor is also certified to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, including community outreach.
Founded in 1902, Goodwill Industries strives to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by helping people reach their full potential through education, skills training and the power of work.
The long-standing nonprofit is perhaps best known for its nationwide chain of thrift stores, selling pre-owned clothing, furniture, housewares, vintage pieces, sporting goods, computer components, electronics, books, toys, appliances and more.
The Bend store also carries seasonal items in new condition, including holiday décor, Halloween costumes (currently), candy and snack foods. Their donation and retail site is at 61315 S Highway 97 open Monday-Sunday. New merchandise is added daily.
In 2022 alone, Goodwill served over 2.1 million individuals worldwide and helped more than 128,998 people train for careers in industries such as banking, IT and health care, to name a few, and get the supportive services they needed to be successful, such as English language training, additional education and access to transportation and childcare.
