Goodwill is a “not-for-profit”, tax exempt (under section 501-C-3 of the IRS tax code), charity and an affiliate of the Tyler/Smith County United Way.

Goodwill is a retailer. There are 2 stores in Tyler, 3 stores in Longview, and 11 stores in the surrounding towns of Mineola, Canton, Gun Barrel City, Athens, Palestine, Jacksonville, Henderson, Kilgore, Gladewater, Marshall and Carthage. In 2008, we provided low cost, high quality items to 600,000 customers. Customers can include persons wishing to stretch their personal needs budget further; collectors, flea market resellers, furniture/antique refinishers/restorers, do-it-yourself costumers, and value shoppers/treasure hunters in general.

Goodwill is a manufacturer. At our Extended Employment Center (sheltered workshop), named Opportunities In Tyler, we cut lint free, re-useable paper towels, bake dog cookies, and make scented candles.

Goodwill is a service provider authorized by TIBH and DARS. TIBH, who oversees state purchases from the blind and handicapped and DARS, the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services are state contracting agencies. We have just begun to work with a federal agency (NISH).

For TIBH, we have several state set-aside contracts for litter pick-up/grounds maintenance at local office buildings, I-20 rest stops, and state parks. We also provide grounds maintenance to private residences and local businesses.

For, DARS, we perform Vocational Evaluation tests. We provide Work Adjustment, Job Quest, Vocational Adjustment, Personal/Social Adjustment training. We provide Job Placement, Job Coaching and on-the-job (OJT) support. And, we offer counseling from a degreed Licensed Professional Counselor and Career Focus consultations.

For NISH we are repackaging disaster relief supplies to be distributed through FEMA.

In addition, we are a sub-contractor to local manufacturing companies and provide packaging and assembly labor for labor intensive, highly repetitive, simple tasks. These contracts are performed at our Opportunities In Tyler workshop where we employ over 60 individuals who are so severely handicapped that they couldn’t work in regular competitive situations and are qualified under section 14c of the Department of Labor compensation code.

Goodwill is an employer. We provide jobs, on a daily basis, to between 400 and 450 people.

In 2008, we paid over $5 million in salaries and wages that equates through a ripple effect, to an economic impact for the community of close to $15,000,000.

At the same time that we provide jobs, we also act as a stepping stone for individuals to move on to better paying, long term, permanent employment. In 2008, we issued W-2’s to approximately 625 – 650 different people.

Goodwill is a recycler.

In 2008, we diverted from the landfill over 3,000 tons of donated items to third party users. Textile items may have been shipped to third world countries for sale there or converted into other products such as oil cleaning rags in garages. TV’s, vacuums, etc. may have been cannibalized for parts and resold in a used appliance store. Goodwill is part of the Dell Reconnect computer de-manufacturing process. We have also diverted almost 400,000 pounds of e-waste.

What is the Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc.?

A

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