Goodwill celebrates 75 years with new Etobicoke location, 30 new jobs

TORONTO, June 8 /CNW/ - Goodwill Toronto is celebrating 75 years of work for people facing barriers to employment with the opening of a new community store at 871 Islington Ave. in Etobicoke. This new location alone creates 30 jobs for people in the community who do not have access to employment.

Founded in 1935 in the heart of the Great Depression as the Society for Crippled Civilians, Goodwill continues to provide work to those seeking employment as we emerge from another recession.

"The opening of a new Goodwill location demonstrates how Goodwill and the local community are able to create jobs for people who cannot otherwise access work. This is done through the simple act of bringing in gently used items to our stores," says Dr. Ken Connelly, President and CEO of Goodwill Greater Toronto, Central and Eastern Ontario.

18 of the 30 new jobs at the Etobicoke location are filled through Goodwill's REACH(TM) (Real Employment to Achieve Community Health) initiative whereby employees receive job and life skills training. The goal of the REACH(TM) program is to enable people to grow into more than just a job, but a career, with sustained employment viewed as a process.

Goodwill creates jobs through the 3 R's: Reuse, Resell, Recruit. As a 95 per cent self-sustaining social enterprise, Goodwill accepts donations from the community of new and lightly used goods such as clothing and household items. These goods are then resold in community stores.

"Goodwill has made a business out of being green. Recycling of household goods helps to ensure that we look after the environment for the next generation," said the Honourable Laurel Broten, MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore and Minister for Children's and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Women's Issues. "Goodwill takes this great work one step further by also looking after those in the current generation who need assistance."

The new Goodwill location in Etobicoke is located on Islington beside the Gardiner Expressway allowing people to conveniently drive in and drop off their donated goods. As the second community store and donation centre location in Etobicoke, Goodwill is thrilled to increase its ability to accept donations, provide customers with bargains and employ people in the local community.

To find a Goodwill location near you or to learn more about what you can donate, visit: www.goodwill.on.ca.

About Goodwill

Since 1935, Goodwill's mission is to create work opportunities and skills development for people facing serious barriers to employment, including persons with disabilities, youth at risk, the chronically unemployed, Aboriginal people and newcomers to Canada. Our Community Stores resell a wide variety of donated goods for reuse, the revenues from which create jobs at Goodwill, giving people much-needed paid jobs.

For further information: Media contact: Julia Dyck, Advisor, Communications and External Relations, Goodwill Greater Toronto, Central and Eastern Ontario, Cell: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]