To continue our vocational service theme for the month of January, we welcomed Denis Robinson Sr., Director of Mission Services at Goodwill. The mission of the Goodwill states, "We Believe in the Value of People and the Power of Work." Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries began service to the community in 1893 as the Christ Mission Settlement on East Federal Street in downtown Youngstown. The Settlement was established in response to the specific needs of the population. Over the years, the specific programs and services offered by the organization have evolved as the needs of the community have changed, but the essence has remained the same.
 

Goodwill Facilities Locations:

  • Youngstown
  • Boardman
  • Hermitage
  • Columbiana County
  • Calcutta
  • Mercer County
  • Lawrence County - New Castle
  • Warren market
The training center for Goodwill is located in Youngstown, off Belmont Ave.
 

Mission Services:

  • Vocational Training: vocational evaluation, work adjustment, skills training, job placement & job coaching, sheltered employment, classroom instruction. Goodwill provides services to many people who want to determine a vocational goal, receive training, attend classes, develop a resume and improve job seeking skills in order to obtain successful employment. The agency is conveniently located and easily accessible by public transportation. Programs begin between 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and end by 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • Job Placement: The Job Placement Program assists persons seeking employment in choosing and obtaining successful community employment in opportunities in line with their choices and preferences. Individuals who complete programs at Goodwill, as well as those directly referred who are job ready, can participate. Weekly job club is held —as well as individual meetings—to provide information on contacting employers, the local labor market, benefits, employment policies and practices, and job matches. Direct referrals attend classes in job seeking skills that include employment application preparation, interview techniques and resume development. The instructor and job placement specialist work together to ensure an easy transition to the world of work.
  • Radio Reading: Operating over the SCA (sideband) of WYSU-FM, the Youngstown Radio Reading Service (YRRS) is a private, non-profit station serving the print impaired. The YRRS broadcasts print materials which are not otherwise accessible to its listeners. Programming includes in-depth coverage of local newspapers along with readings from magazines, and best-selling books presented in series. Talk shows and special interest programs encourage listeners to share experiences, exchange views, and gain knowledge. Specially tuned radios are provided free of charge to qualified listeners.
  • Vision Services: Individuals who are blind or visually impaired are served at Goodwill through many different programs.  A comprehensive rehabilitation plan is developed to incorporate the consumer’s expressed goals and identify needs and available resources as assessed by the staff.

Business Services: 

  • Janitorial: Goodwill's janitorial services division is available to help clean office spaces or place someone to handle janitorial duties at your business. In addition, Goodwill provides janitorial services to various companies across the community. Services offered include: office cleaning, retail space cleaning, medical office cleaning, educational facility cleaning, high-security area cleaning, construction cleanup, green chemical cleaning, window washing, floor stripping and waxing, and carpet cleaning.
  • Laundry: Goodwill provides quality commercial laundry services to hospitals, residential facilities and other businesses in the community, and currently processes approximately 300,000 pounds of laundry per year.
  • Contract Services: Goodwill employees have experience in soldering, assembling, packaging, counting, shipping and various other time consuming tasks. Instead of retraining temporary workers, Goodwill's qualified workforce will be ready to complete orders in a timely manner. 
To find out more about Goodwill, visit https://goodwillyoungstown.org/