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:

Austintown - Austintown Plaza, 6000 Mahoning Ave., 330.792.8830

Boardman - Boardman Plaza, 285 Boardman-Canfield Rd., 330.758.0282

Calcutta - 15765 State Route 170, 330.385.7998

Hermitage - Hermitage Hills Plaza, 2986 East State St., 724.346.4456

Liberty - 2747 Belmont Avenue, 330.759.0677

New Castle - Shenango Towne Center, 2611 Ellwood Rd., 330.652.4877

Salem - 187 South Broadway, 330.337.9685

Warren - Warren Plaza, 2083 Elm Rd., 330.372.1214

Please call or visit www.goodwillyoungstown.org for donation center hours and for accepted items.

Michele Barnett

Donors: Thanks for Believing in the Power of Work

Benefactors – $1,000+

Anne K. Christman Fund of The

Youngstown Foundation

The Brotherhood Foundation

Fibus Family Foundation

Home Savings Charitable Foundation

Schwebel Family Foundation

Warren P. Williamson, Jr. Fund of The

Youngstown Foundation

Western Reserve Foundation, a

supporting organization of the

Community Foundation of the

Mahoning Valley - In Support of

the Amblyopia Program

The Youngstown Foundation

Youngstown Lions Club

Sustainers – $500+

Janice JanJanin

Charlie & Teresa Masters

Patrons – $250+

Elliot Giles

Martin Toomajian

Supporters – $100+

A.P. O’Horo Company

George & Theresa Bosela - In Support

of YRRS

Canteen Service

Jean Collins

Don Crago

Charles Dunlap

Mandie Hiznay - In Memory of Paul

Rienerth

Carrie Holli - In Memory of Don

Oglesby & In Support of YRRS

William Poole, Jr.

Mark & Sue Stricklin

Elyn Summers

Betsy Wells

Contributors – $50+

Marilyn Boggs - In Support of YRRS

Marie Davidson

Karla & Rich Edwards - In Memory of

Paul Rienerth

Sam Fasline - In Support of YRRS

Doris Gluck

Ilona Labusch - In Support of YRRS

Milton Lenhart

Mike & Carol McBride

Anthony Mehle

Patricia Soller

Grayce Wiggins - In Support of YRRS

Friends – Up to $50

Ode & Nalungo L. Aduma - In Memory

of Paul Rienerth

Betty Bemis

Michael Bosela - In Memory of Paul

Rienerth

Judy Chain

Patrick & Linda DeToro - In Support of

YRRS

Susan Epstein - In Memory of Paul

Rienerth

William Hanlon

Erica Hite

Darlene Kozusko

Mike McBride - In Memory of Richard

Bosela

Talva Maslach

Jeff Necko

John Reardon

Ethel Seridan

Metrechia A. Soper

Robert Webber

Gifts In Kind

Cirrus Fitness

Kelly Sweeney, a senior at Struthers High School, displays her award along with her English teacher, Andrew Kornbau (left) and Mike McBride, executive

director of Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries. Sweeney, who wrote a public

service announcement for Goodwill, was 3rd runner-up in the Tom Holden Memorial Scholarship contest from WKBN-27. Students were asked to write a

PSA for a non-profit agency of their choice. Of the 150 teenagers that submit-

ted PSA’s, judges selected one winner and five runners up. Along with the scholarship, WKBN-27 also produced the winning spot to air on television.

Goodwill Receives Grants from

the Community Foundation of

the Mahoning Valley

Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries recently received two

grants through the Community Foundation of the Mahoning

Valley. Goodwill was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Kenne-

dy Family Fund, a component fund of the Community Founda-

tion of the Mahoning Valley. This grant will be used to provide

support for the vocation rehabilitation services and programs

that are currently not funded or under-funded. The funds will be

used to pay wages, benefits, etc. of staff as well as other operat-

ing costs associated with providing services to individuals in

sheltered/organizational employment and placement, and occu-

pational health services.

Goodwill also received a grant of $10,000 from the Western

Reserve Health Foundation, a supporting organization of the

Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley. The funds will

be used to support Goodwill’s visual services program. As visu-

al support services continue to grow, additional funding support

is required. The grant will help to offset operational costs not

currently covered by other funding sources. “The grant from the

Western Reserve Health Foundation will help Goodwill to pro-

vide visual support services in our community. Radio Reading,

preschool vision screening, social services for people who are

blind or visually impaired, and the eyeglass program all provide

needed services that can correct vision problems and/or main-

tain and create independence,” says Mike McBride, executive

director of Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries.

Youngstown State University student Emily Rohanna works on a display wall in the Liberty Goodwill store as a project for her visual merchandising

class.

2747 Belmont Avenue

Youngstown, Ohio 44505-1864

Address Service Requested

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

Youngstown, Ohio

Permit No. 738