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Powering possibilities across Chippewa Valley and Coulee Region
When you donate and shop at Goodwill North Central Wisconsin, you’re powering what’s possible for individuals in our local communities across Chippewa Valley and Coulee Region 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 passing on a bike your child outgrew, you’re passing on the gift of freedom and adventure to someone else.
The average donation creates about three hours of job training through Goodwill NCW Employment Services.
When you shop secondhand
you’re not just buying a bike for your child, you’re opening up a world of adventure for them.
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 Morrigan!
Morrigan joined the School-to-Work program at the Lake Hallie Goodwill store during her senior year of high school while facing significant personal and financial challenges. Initially hesitant to enter the workforce and uncomfortable with customer interaction, she requested a production role to avoid front-line service responsibilities.
Through her experience in the program, Morrigan developed strong digital and workplace skills while improving her accuracy and confidence in cashiering and everyday problem-solving. Most notably, she demonstrated remarkable personal growth, becoming more confident, communicative, and comfortable engaging with both customers and team members.
Morrigan’s supervisor, assistant store manager Mary, shared, “Morrigan has gotten so much more independent, and her people skills have really improved. She’s always happy and talkative and greets people with a ‘good morning’ and a smile every day. She stays busy, looks for ways to help wherever she can, and never slacks off once a task is finished.”
Following her success in the program, Morrigan enrolled in the CNA pathway through Career EXCELerate and plans to begin classes shortly after graduating high school. She credits her School-to-Work experience at Goodwill NCW with giving her the confidence to pursue her long-term goal of attending Chippewa Valley Technical College and becoming a nurse.
Meet Katie
Meet Katie! Katie began her journey with Goodwill NCW 20 years ago through the School-to-Work program at the La Crosse Goodwill Store. What started as an opportunity to gain valuable workplace experience became the foundation of a journey of growth, determination and success. When the Onalaska store opened, Katie made the move there as a program participant, building new skills, increasing her independence and becoming an important part of the team. Through her dedication, positive attitude and willingness to embrace new challenges – including interacting with customers and taking on greater responsibilities – Katie continued to grow both personally and professionally. Now working as a Retail Assistant at the Onalaska store, Katie’s perseverance and commitment to Goodwill NCW continues to make a lasting impact on the team members and customers she interacts with.
Employment Placement Specialist Kya shares, “I think I speak for the entire team when I say how incredibly proud we are of Katie! Over the past 20 years, she has grown in so many ways and truly makes Goodwill a better place to work every single day. Katie is such a genuine ray of sunshine – it’s impossible to be in a bad mood when you’re around her!”