Goodwill Industries celebrates 98 years serving NWLA

May 05, 2024

Everyone has heard of Goodwill and knows the thrift stores, but many do not understand why the stores exist. During the month of May, Goodwill focuses their efforts on better educating the community on its mission and how it takes many individuals to make Goodwill Industries’ mission succeed: employees, board members, donors, shoppers, clients, students, and community partners. Each one is vital to help Goodwill run smoothly and effectively.   

Goodwill has a whole month of activities planned including Campus Cleanout Events, an Annual Luncheon highlighting the 2023 outcomes, and a large Community-Wide Job Fair.  

Campus Cleanout Events

The month began at Grambling State University with their first Campus Cleanout Event where students and faculty lightened their loads as they moved out of the dorms and classrooms for the summer.  As part of Goodwill Month, the following future Campus Cleanout Events are planned: 

  • May 7th at University of Louisiana Monroe, 10am to 3pm 

  • May 8th at Northwestern State University, 10am to 3pm 

  • May 10th at Louisiana State University at Alexandria, 10am to 3pm 

  • May 17th at Southern University at Shreveport, 9am to 1pm 

  • May 30th at Louisiana State University at Shreveport, 10am to 2pm 

98th Community Awards Luncheon

In addition to the Campus Cleanout Events, Goodwill will be hosting its 98th Community Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 16th.  During the event, several business and community leader volunteers will be honored and recognized for their role in helping Goodwill’s mission be successful.  Former Chicago Cub, Chris Singleton will be the featured keynote speaker at the event. 

This year’s businesses and individual honorees include: Parish of Caddo, Care Free Janitorial, Johnny’s Pizza House, Healthy Blue, Freedom Church – Benny Walker Helping Hands Ministry, Highland Ministries, Ms. Vita Riner, Ms. Penny Butler, Mr. Danzel London, and Mr. Jaron Gray. 

2023 Highlights

  • Providing job placement and training services to 2,525 individuals  

  • Placing 416 individuals into employment earning an average wage in excess of $12.28/hour 

  • Providing 397 employers with employees 

  • Graduating 29 youth and adults from HiSET/GED classes 

  • Provided employees to 343 unique employers  

  • Helped 9 individuals obtain post secondary credentials, including CDL’s and forlift. 

  • Saving more than 7,354,704 pounds of donated goods from landfills 

  • Providing an Economic Impact of $9,962,536 to North Louisiana 

Ticket information

Individual tickets can still be purchased online through Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 at https://goodwillnla.org/annual-awards-luncheon/.  Individual Tickets are $75/person, and table and sponsorships are also available. 

Goodwill Job Fair

Finally, on Wednesday, May 22nd, Goodwill will be teaming up with multiple companies to host a large onsite Job Fair at its newly renovated Job Center, located at 800 West 70th Street, in Shreveport. 

More than 15 companies have already committed to be onsite during the event. The event is free and open to the public from 10am to 1pm; no appointments are necessary. If you are interested in participating in the Job Fair, please contact Darlene Robinson at 318-629-5925.