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Fox Valley and Bay Area Impact
Goodwill NCW. Transforming lives in our local communities.
When you donate and shop at Goodwill NCW, you support local individuals in the Fox Valley and Bay Area 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 the Fox Valley and Bay Area.
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.
Meet Catherine
Catherine joined the Group Supported Employment (GSE) program in April 2023 and was one of the first participants placed at Thrivent’s Meade Operations Center. In this temporary, skill-building role designed to prepare individuals for long-term employment, Catherine has truly excelled. She quickly learned new tasks, consistently met her goals, and steadily gained confidence. That confidence has grown into leadership, as she now mentors peers and takes responsibility for quality control, an important focus at Thrivent.
Thanks to her strong performance, Catherine became the first participant to advance to a Tier 2 role within the program. Her journey reflects the power of inclusive training opportunities and the impact of the Thrivent and Goodwill NCW partnership in helping individuals build skills, grow their confidence, and take meaningful steps toward future employment success.
From Service to Stability: Meet Richard, Our Edgar J. Helms 2025 Veteran of the Year
Richard’s journey to stability was shaped by service, struggle, and ultimately, support. A Navy veteran who faced personal loss, PTSD, and employment challenges after his military career, Richard found a new path with help from Goodwill NCW’s Career EXCELerate program. With their support, he earned his CDL, completing the program at the top of his class, and launched a successful trucking career, transforming his life and achieving the stability he once thought out of reach. His story is a powerful reminder of resilience, second chances, and the impact of community support.
Read more of Richard’s story >
Meet Noah, Our Edgar J. Helms Achiever of the Year!
Noah has overcome extraordinary health challenges, including multiple life-threatening conditions and several neurosurgeries by the age of 14. These struggles impacted his ability to communicate, remember, and learn new tasks, but they didn’t define his future. With determination and support from Goodwill NCW’s School-to-Work program, Noah began building skills and confidence at the Ashwaubenon Goodwill store. Today, he’s a full-time team member, earning a steady paycheck, receiving benefits, and achieving major life goals like buying a car and saving for retirement. His story is a powerful testament to resilience and the impact of meaningful opportunity.
Meet Harmony – Growing in Skills and Confidence.
Harmony’s journey with Goodwill began at the Manitowoc Goodwill Store in July of 2021 through a referral from Ascend Services, a partner organization focused on employment pathways. Initially mostly non-verbal and anxious, Harmony started in softlines production with accommodations like a self-soothing earbud which helped her to become calmer and more confident. Over time, she went from relying on a coach to independently engaging with her team, sharing her love for anime and horror movies. Her dedication led to her being hired as a team member in September 2021 and later inspired her twin sister Melody to join the team as well. Harmony has since expanded her skills across departments and is now a part-time 20 production specialist, working towards a senior role. In 2024, she moved into her own home, and in 2025 proudly earned her driver’s license and her own car, milestones reflecting her incredible personal and professional growth through her time at Goodwill.
