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Powering possibilities across Central and North Central Wisconsin
When you donate and shop at Goodwill North Central Wisconsin, you’re powering what’s possible for individuals in our local communities across Central and North Central Wisconsin as they build job skills to sustain employment and improve their financial stability.
The Power of You & Goodwill NCW in Our Communities
When you donate
you’re not just clearing out a space in your garage, you’re fueling new beginnings.
The average donation creates about three hours of job training through Goodwill NCW Employment Services.
When you shop secondhand
you’re not just buying new-to-you luggage, you’re saying yes to new adventures.
On average, 90 cents of every dollar in sales is reinvested back into our mission of Elevating People by Eliminating Barriers to Employment.
When you donate and shop, it means you’re powering possibilities for individuals with employment barriers in Central and North Central Wisconsin.
Meet Nicole
Following a difficult childhood and the loss of her brother in 2008, Nicole turned to substances to help her cope. As a young mother, she found herself trapped in a cycle of addiction she couldn’t escape that ultimately led to a three-year incarceration. But that was not the end of her story.
Nicci began completing community service at Goodwill NCW, where a team member encouraged her to apply for a job. She was hired as a cashier, a second chance she says meant everything.
Employment became one piece of a bigger transformation. Working with a Goodwill NCW financial counselor, Nicci built a budget and tackled goals like paying off rent and child support and for the first time, she wasn’t just surviving. She was dreaming.
Nicci grew from program participant to full-time team member to assistant store manager, and now has her sights set on one day managing a store of her own.
That perseverance is why Nicole has been named Goodwill NCW’s Edgar J. Helms Achiever of the Year, an honor recognizing someone who has outstanding achievement in overcoming barriers to build skills, sustain employment and achieve financial stability.
Creating Pathways to Employment Through Partnership
Goodwill NCW is proud to partner with Aligned Employment to provide paid work experience opportunities for individuals working to overcome barriers to employment through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). Together, we help participants build workplace skills, confidence, and experience in Goodwill retail locations across northern Wisconsin.
Founded by Tera Nicholson, a longtime employment advocate, Aligned Employment shares Goodwill’s commitment to creating opportunities that lead to lasting success. One example is Andy, a hearing-impaired former program participant who, with support from DVR and Aligned Employment, gained valuable work experience at Goodwill and is now a permanent team member. Partnerships like this demonstrate how collaboration can open doors and create meaningful employment opportunities that change lives.
Tera, founder of Aligned Employment shares, “I have been active with Goodwill since the day they opened in my little town over 19 years ago, both professionally and as a customer. The team is patient and offers guidance without hesitation. It is the reason that our partnership is as strong today as the day it opened. We collaborate and work hard to make great opportunities happen for others.”