Goodwill highlights real stories behind every donation

Goodwill Industries of Wayne and Holmes Counties is asking the community to consider donating to Goodwill and investing in programs that help local youth and adults build stronger futures.

Donations to Goodwill do far more than stock shelves. They fund career training, youth services and one-on-one case management and support programs that directly impact people living in Wayne and Holmes counties. With continued community support, Goodwill plans to sustain its current programs and introduce new opportunities in the year ahead.

Behind every donation is a real person and a real story.

Meet Cohen.

Cohen came to Goodwill as a Wooster High School student facing challenges many young people know all too well. Limited income, transportation barriers and unstable housing could have slowed him down. Instead, Cohen showed resilience, determination and a clear desire to build a better future.

Through Goodwill’s youth career services program, Cohen hit milestone after milestone. He secured a job. He earned his driver’s license. He visited multiple colleges. And now he is officially on his way to attending college next year.

Meet King.

King also came to Goodwill Wayne and Holmes as a Wooster High School student, preparing for life after graduation. Like many young people, he faced barriers related to income and transportation. What set King apart was his drive to keep pushing forward.

With hard work and support from Goodwill’s youth career services team, King reached an important achievement. He has been accepted to college and will play football at Heidelberg University. His future is wide open, and his journey is just getting started.

“These are the stories that show why every donation matters,” said Dawn Cazzolli, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Wayne and Holmes Counties. “When someone donates to Goodwill, they are not just giving items or dollars; they are helping fund our stores, sustain our programs and create opportunities that literally change lives right here in Wayne and Holmes counties. One donation can be the difference between someone staying stuck or moving forward.”

This holiday season the community can support Goodwill in three ways:

—Donate at its stores: Drop off gently used clothing, housewares, toys and more at any of Goodwill’s five retail locations in Wayne and Holmes counties (Wooster, Millersburg, Orrville, Loudonville and Rittman).

—Donate online: Make a secure financial contribution by visiting www.goodwillconnect.org/donate.

—Donate by mail: Goodwill Industries, P.O. Box 1188, Wooster, OH 44691.

Financial contributions help expand programs and respond to growing needs while donated goods support retail operations that fund Goodwill’s mission year round.