YOUNGSTOWN AREA Goodwill succeeds despite economy

The organization was able to find jobs for between 40 and 50 people this year.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries continued to find jobs this year for those with disadvantages and disabilities in the midst of a struggling economy.
Michael W. McBride, executive director of Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, said a meeting is scheduled in January to discuss the organization's 2003 goals.
The economy is a major factor in Goodwill's ability to place people in jobs and raise funds. He said that although the amount of clothing donations to Goodwill stores has increased in the past year, the quality of the clothing has decreased.
Despite these struggles, McBride said that Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries was slightly more successful in 2002 than last year.
"We have been very successful from the standpoint of employees," McBride said.
He gave the example of a military veteran who came to Goodwill for help. The veteran believed that he would never work again after he was disabled in the Vietnam War. He is now assistant supervisor at one of the janitorial jobs with a military base.
Many single mothers also have been able to find work and support their families after receiving aid from Goodwill, McBride added.
This year, 40 to 50 people were placed in jobs, and about 325 employees worked in the Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries. The employees are referred to Goodwill by the Ohio Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Mahoning and Trumbull County Department of Job and Family Services.
"Anywhere from 300 to 500 people are referred to us," McBride said.
Here's the process
After being referred to Goodwill in Youngstown, the employees are evaluated to help Goodwill discover jobs of interest and to assess any barriers the employees may have.
Barriers may include inadequate reading skills or lack of child care, transportation or housing.
McBride explained that Goodwill hires placement specialists to work with employees. The specialists teach employees to fill out applications and complete r & eacute;sum & eacute;s.
The employees go through a series of mock interviews to help them learn how to interact with prospective employers.
Goodwill Industries started in 1893 by helping immigrants who struggled with job security because of language barriers or lack of child care. Over the years, Goodwill has reached out to many kinds of people with needs.
While working at Goodwill, employees process clothing for the organization's clothing stores, work on packaging assembly for local businesses and do janitorial work around the community.
Goodwill's funding comes from this work, the clothing stores and the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, which pays a fee every time an employee is referred to Goodwill.
Employees are placed in jobs in the areas of food service, retail, offices and janitorial work. The Mahoning County Courthouse and the Youngstown Radio Reading Service also provide jobs for Goodwill employees.