How We Serve

Graduate of the Year Jessica Brimhall At Goodwill’s 2011 Awards & Recognition Night, the sold-out audience listened raptly as Graduate of the Year Jessica Brimhall accepted her award. With great poise, Jessica offered her remarks, excerpted here for space:

“I would like to say a few words about what Goodwill has done for me. The Job Club helped me look for a job and I finally got the job of my dreams. Goodwill has found me a job that I am comfortable in and that makes me happy. I would also like to thank Gaye, especially, because she encouraged me. She always kept telling me to never give up, even when I felt like it. I have a disability caused Asperger Syndrome, which is a disability similar to autism. I have had this disability since I was a toddler and sometimes while I was searching for a job it was making it difficult. Then when I met Gaye everything changed! Thank you Gaye for being there for me. I would also like to thank my parents who are an inspiration to me. Just because of Goodwill I have a great job and the confidence to keep trying. I am now working for Chuck E. Cheese as the mouse himself and am totally loving it. I would also like to thank all of the people at CEC’s, especially my main manager Kelly, for giving me a chance to show how much of a hard worker I can be! Thank you so much for this award and thank you again Goodwill. God Bless you all!!”

Jessica not only works as Chuck E., but has added cashiering, bussing tables, and answering phones to her skills. Outside work she has just been invited to become a Zumba instructor, having mastered the popular dance herself.

From a recent letter sent by a Goodwill graduate:

I would like to inform you that I have a taken a position in Hayden, Idaho. I want to thank you and the staff of the Incarcerated Veterans Training Program and Goodwill Industries for your guidance, support and inspiration in my successful acquisition of this job. I especially want to recognize the help of Shannon, Jack and Anthony for their positive reinforcement and goodwill. When I came to you for help I had to swallow my pride and rely on your expertise to jump start my post incarceration life. I was homeless, jobless, downtrodden and frustrated in my attempt to find gainful employment handicapped by a criminal history.I am writing this letter so that you may share it with others. There is redemption, hope and opportunity if they have the desire, perseverance and faith to achieve their desires. Thanks for believing in me.

With each success a life is transformed and a community enriched, this is Goodwill. As part of our emphasis on providing high quality services, we ask graduates of our programs how satisfied they are with the services they received at Goodwill. Here’s what some of our recent graduates had to say:

“Goodwill’s staff is stellar, the nicest and most respectful.”

“The program gave me a chance to succeed. Thank you.”

“Knowledgeable, good-hearted staff—true professionals.”

Another important way we measure the quality of our services is receiving accreditation by CARF (the national nonprofit Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission). Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest has consistently received the maximum period of accreditation—three years—-for the following services: Community Employment Services: Job Development Community Employment Services: Job Supports Community Employment Services: Job-site Training Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation Services Employment Planning Services Goodwill’s current accreditation was awarded in September 2011 following an intense examination by CARF surveyors who scrutinize operational aspects of the organization, from management to safety to service delivery.