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Central and North Central Impact
Goodwill NCW. Transforming lives in our local communities.
When you donate and shop at Goodwill NCW, you support local individuals in Central and North Central Wisconsin, as they build job skills to sustain employment and improve their financial stability.
Not only are you making a local impact by helping individuals overcome employment barriers, but when you shop at Goodwill NCW, you also get to experience the thrill of the hunt! Discover that one-of-a-kind treasure, snag amazing deals that save you money, and do your part for the environment by keeping gently used items out of Wisconsin landfills.
You impact individuals in Central and North Central Wisconsin.
Every purchase provides career pathways.
Goodwill NCW reinvests an average of 90 cents of every dollar in-store sales back into our mission to provide a life-changing impact to individuals with barriers to employment.
Every donation builds job skills.
The average donation creates about three hours of job training through Goodwill NCW Employment Services empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential.
Every local community partnership creates opportunities.
Goodwill NCW partners with more than 120 nonprofits across north central Wisconsin to transform lives through the power of work.
Local Partnerships
Goodwill NCW recently partnered with the Stevens Point Area School District and the Project Life program to offer meaningful, real-world job experiences to students. Project Life is designed to support high school students with disabilities by blending classroom learning with hands-on job training in the community. Over a 10-week period, students worked at the Plover Goodwill store two to three days a week, rotating through different roles to develop their job skills and grow in workplace independence.
Participants were trained in safety procedures and gained experience in several store functions including merchandising, ticketing, hanger/sizer tasks, and greeting. Before beginning their job experience, students also went through the entire hiring process, which included learning how to fill out applications and completing necessary employment paperwork.
Through this collaborative effort, students received not only a paycheck, but also the chance to build valuable skills, explore career paths, and work in an inclusive setting that fosters growth and learning.
Logan’s Journey from Student to Team Member.
Logan began his journey with Goodwill NCW at the Wisconsin Rapids store through the School-to-Work program in September 2024. From day one, he approached every task with dedication and a strong desire to grow. Eager to expand his skills, Logan took the initiative to train as a cashier and quickly proved his ability to manage the role’s responsibilities. As he prepared to complete the program, Logan expressed interest in continuing his journey with Goodwill. With a part-time Customer Experience Specialist position available, Logan applied, interviewed, and officially joined the team in June.
“Logan has shown amazing growth throughout his time in the program, challenging himself to learn new skills and come out of his shell,” Store Team Leader Jackie said. “He has excelled at the new job tasks before him and has proven to be a valuable part of the team.”
Community Partnerships
Goodwill NCW Mission Relations Manager Kayla Countney and Rhinelander Mission Team Leader Leigha Plehn recently had the opportunity to sit down with WJFV in Rhinelander to talk about Project SEARCH and the impact it has in the community. Project SEARCH is a business-led work training program for individuals with disabilities. It is a nine-month program in which young adults complete three different internships within various departments with a goal of obtaining competitive employment in the community upon program completion.
Project SEARCH interns have total immersion in the workplace, which assists in the instruction and learning process. Each job site has a certified instructor and a job coach to work with the interns and the business, and the interns receive continuous feedback in order to build employability and competitive work skills.
When asked about the impact of including individual with disabilities in the workplace, Kayla stated, “Individuals can see another person for who they are, the strengths that they bring, the opportunities they have for growth like any of us do, and typically it helps to enhance the culture, and it makes the workplace that much more fruitful and meaningful to be at.”
Meet Wyatt. Overcoming Barriers to Employment.
Wyatt recently graduated from Project SEARCH, a nine-month internship that prepares individuals with disabilities for meaningful employment. During his internship at Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital, Wyatt gained valuable experience in various departments aligned with his interests. Wyatt says that the program’s structure and support helped him overcome feelings of depression by providing routine and social engagement. After completing the internship, Wyatt was hired as a part-time Environmental Services Aid at Aspirus, and he’s excited about this new chapter. Goodwill NCW is proud to support Wyatt’s journey to independence and success.
