Legislators Learn About Goodwill During Tour 1893 - 2014 Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, Inc. Volume 31, Number 1 Spring 2014 A group of state representatives who just completed a weight loss competition to benefit Goodwill, recently toured Youngs- town Area Goodwill Industries’ facility to see up close and personal the programs and services Goodwill provides. The group included Ron Gerberry of Austintown, Sean O’Brien of Hubbard, Bob Hagan of Youngstown and Tom Letson of War- ren. State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, whose mother was once a volun- teer at Goodwill, also joined the representatives for the tour of Goodwill. The group of state representatives took part in the 13th Annual Tribune Chronicle Fitness Challenge under the name Soon-to-be-Skinny D’s due to the fact that they are all Democrats. Participants of the fitness challenge were given the choice as to which charity they wanted to represent. The group chose Goodwill as their charity to receive the pro- ceeds from their efforts. “I selected Goodwill Industries for our charity because I know on a personal level the value of this organization to the Mahoning Valley. It is an outstanding com- munity asset that truly understands the value of work and adds so much to the lives of it employees,” says Gerberry. Gerberry's family is very involved with Goodwill, his sister- in-law has been employed in Goodwill’s textiles department as a sheltered employee for over 20 years, another sister-in-law is a volunteer with The Junior Group of Goodwill and his wife is Mike McBride, executive director of Goodwill, explains Goodwill’s operations as (from left) state Rep. Sean O’Brien, state Senator Joe Schiavoni, state Rep. Bob Hagan and state Rep. Ron Gerberry (out of view is state Rep. Tom Letson) listen during a tour of the Goodwill facility on Belmont Avenue in Liberty. Mike McBride (second from left), stands with (from left) state Rep. Bob Hagan, state Rep. Sean O’Brien, state Rep. Ron Gerberry and state Sen. Joe Schiavoni during a recent visit from the legislators. president of The Junior Group of Goodwill, as well as a mem- ber of the Goodwill Board of Trustees. As someone who was already familiar with Goodwill and had previously been on a tour, Gerberry thought it would be good idea for the rest of the group to learn first hand what Goodwill is all about. “We wel- come the opportunity to take anyone on a tour of our facility in order to gain a better understanding of what it is we do here,” states Mike McBride, Goodwill’s executive director. We offer tours to groups or any individual interested in learning more about our organization.” “The employees were very excited for the opportunity to meet and speak to some of our local lawmakers, it really meant a lot to them that the legislators came out to see the work they do here every day at Goodwill,” says McBride. Not only did the visit leave an impact on Goodwill employees, but it also left quite an impression with Gerberry. “Goodwill is so much more than collection sites and Goodwill store fronts. The tour showed me first hand the size and complexity of the overall organization. I learned of the numerous opportunities it offers the Goodwill employees and how it improves the quality of life for so many. Goodwill makes all of us better and that is why it’s one of my favorite charities,” said Gerberry.
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Legislators Learn About Goodwill During Tour
1893 - 2014 Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, Inc. Volume 31, Number 1
Spring 2014
A group of state representatives who just completed a weight
loss competition to benefit Goodwill, recently toured Youngs-
town Area Goodwill Industries’ facility to see up close and
personal the programs and services Goodwill provides. The
group included Ron Gerberry of Austintown, Sean O’Brien of
Hubbard, Bob Hagan of Youngstown and Tom Letson of War-
ren. State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, whose mother was once a volun-
teer at Goodwill, also joined the representatives for the tour of
Goodwill. The group of state representatives took part in the
13th Annual Tribune Chronicle Fitness Challenge under the
name Soon-to-be-Skinny D’s due to the fact that they are all
Democrats. Participants of the fitness challenge were given the
choice as to which charity they wanted to represent.
The group chose Goodwill as their charity to receive the pro-
ceeds from their efforts. “I selected Goodwill Industries for our
charity because I know on a personal level the value of this
organization to the Mahoning Valley. It is an outstanding com-
munity asset that truly understands the value of work and adds
so much to the lives of it employees,” says Gerberry.
Gerberry's family is very involved with Goodwill, his sister-
in-law has been employed in Goodwill’s textiles department as
a sheltered employee for over 20 years, another sister-in-law is
a volunteer with The Junior Group of Goodwill and his wife is
Mike McBride, executive director of Goodwill, explains Goodwill’s operations as (from left) state Rep. Sean O’Brien, state Senator Joe Schiavoni, state Rep. Bob
Hagan and state Rep. Ron Gerberry (out of view is state Rep. Tom Letson) listen
during a tour of the Goodwill facility on Belmont Avenue in Liberty.
Mike McBride (second from left), stands with (from left) state Rep. Bob Hagan, state Rep. Sean O’Brien, state Rep. Ron Gerberry and state Sen. Joe Schiavoni
during a recent visit from the legislators.
president of The Junior Group of Goodwill, as well as a mem-
ber of the Goodwill Board of Trustees. As someone who was
already familiar with Goodwill and had previously been on a
tour, Gerberry thought it would be good idea for the rest of the
group to learn first hand what Goodwill is all about. “We wel-
come the opportunity to take anyone on a tour of our facility in
order to gain a better understanding of what it is we do here,”
states Mike McBride, Goodwill’s executive director. We offer
tours to groups or any individual interested in learning more
about our organization.”
“The employees were very excited for the opportunity to
meet and speak to some of our local lawmakers, it really meant
a lot to them that the legislators came out to see the work they
do here every day at Goodwill,” says McBride. Not only did the
visit leave an impact on Goodwill employees, but it also left
quite an impression with Gerberry. “Goodwill is so much more
than collection sites and Goodwill store fronts. The tour
showed me first hand the size and complexity of the overall
organization. I learned of the numerous opportunities it offers
the Goodwill employees and how it improves the quality of life
for so many. Goodwill makes all of us better and that is why
it’s one of my favorite charities,” said Gerberry.
Goodwill Graduate Spotlight…Michele Barnett All it took was that one time, that one incident was enough for her to
make a change. Michele Barnett recounted the incident that happened on
that evening in January 2013. At the time she was living with her boyfriend
and her two children. “One evening he threatened me with a gun,” she re-
calls. “I waited until he went to sleep, grabbed my two kids and left. I left
everything behind. I didn’t know where to go. I had nowhere to go, so I
called Help Hotline and they set me up with Sojourner House.”
Barnett stayed at Sojourner House for the next few months until she
moved on to the Rescue Mission. The Rescue Mission then referred Barnett
to Goodwill for job training and employment services. “I hadn’t worked for
eight years, I was suffering from PTSD, anxiety and depression,” she says.
Goodwill helped me revamp my job skills and learn to be accountable
again. It helped me mentally, physically and spiritually.”
While at Goodwill, Barnett read in the Radio Reading studios (a radio
station housed at Goodwill that is broadcast to the print impaired), worked
in the textiles department, participated in job club, did computer work and
even helped other program participant with their resumes. “I got a sense of
caring and family from people at Goodwill,” says Barnett. “Some of my
good friends are still there. I was not familiar with Goodwill and their pro-
grams when I came there. I was really surprised, enlightened and inspired
by everything. It helped me get my mindset.”
While at Goodwill, Goodwill’s job placement specialist took her to a job
fair for a new retail store that was opening in the area. They hired her on as
a temporary worker to help set up the store, along with about 100 other
people. Of those 100 people, seven were chosen for full-time employment
with the retailer and Barnett was one of them. She was hired on as a cus-
tomer service supervisor. “Years ago I had worked in banking, but I really
enjoy retail now,” says Barnett. A few months after the store’s opening, the
company approached her about their management training program, or their “Leadership Institute.” Barnett began the program in
January 2014 and expects it to be about a year long process where she participates in classes and instruction, and is required to assist
with two new store openings as part of the program.
“I look at my life in two stages now, before the violence and after,” says Barnett. “Everything changed for me after that night. I was
able to mend fences with my family. Now church is good and rewarding, I no longer go out of a sense of obligation.”
The whole experience showed Barnett first hand how the nonprofit community works together to help one person, from Help Hot-
line, to Sojourner House to the Rescue Mission to Goodwill Industries. “It really opened my eyes to the volunteers and the programs
out there. Now that I am healthy and happy, I want to give back to help people with their situation,” says Barnett. “I’m improving
every day. There is a bright light in the horizon, it’s not so dark anymore. Hope is alive,” smiles Barnett.
Donate to Goodwill When You Spring Clean Spring is the perfect time to go through items in your home and decide what should stay and what should go. As you de-clutter
your home, Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries can put your unwanted items to good use. When you donate your gently used
clothing, housewares and electronics, you are helping Goodwill provide job training and employment services to people with disa-
bilities or other barriers to employment in the community.
Because of the cold winter months, donations have been down at Goodwill, while the demand for job training programs remains
high. Items most needed right now are various houseware items, electronics, glassware, home décor items and small kitchen appli-
ances. Goodwill also accepts computers (flat screens only), computer equipment and computer accessories as part of a free recycling
partnership. Goodwill will even take those Christmas gifts you forgot to return.
You can drop off you donations at any one of the following Goodwill donation centers: