IN RECOGNITION OF THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF GOODWILL OF WESTERN MISSOURI AND EASTERN KANSAS; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 64
(Extensions of Remarks - April 12, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E457-E458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF GOODWILL OF WESTERN MISSOURI
AND EASTERN KANSAS
______
HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Friday, April 12, 2019
Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize and
celebrate the 125th anniversary of Goodwill of Western Missouri and
Eastern Kansas, a nonprofit organization whose core foundation is aimed
at providing people with the necessary resources and life skills to
become self-sufficient and successful individuals. After decades of
commitment to assisting those in their communities, the organization
now operates as a product of two combined agencies, the Helping Hand
Institute and Goodwill Industries.
Commencement of the organization's mission within the Kansas City
area began in 1894 on Grand Boulevard with the Helping Hand Institute,
an organization committed to providing shelter and employment resources
to those in need. The Kansas City residents within the organization
worked on the Helping Hand Institute's farm to feed the community or
found employment salvaging waste material, breaking rock at quarries,
and bailing paper in exchange for food and shelter.
Along the east coast, an organization sharing a similar initiative
arose in 1902 inspired by Reverend Edgar J. Helms, the social innovator
behind Goodwill Industries. After witnessing innumerable immigrant
families struggle to provide for themselves due to unemployment, Rev.
Helms collected clothing and household items from wealthy families to
be repurposed and resold at discounted costs. Using the revenue
generated from those items, he funded his organization and employed a
multitude of people in need of work to provide for their families. The
organization quickly expanded across the nation, and in 1925, Goodwill
Industries of Greater Kansas City opened their first establishment at
St. Peter's Evangelical Church on Oak Street. In the 1940's, Goodwill
Industries wished to further amplify their mission by making employment
services like skills training and vocational rehabilitation available
to the community.
In 1978, after thoughtful deliberation, Goodwill Industries merged
with the Helping Hand Institution to form the Helping Hand of Goodwill,
now officially known as ``Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern
Kansas''.
Today, this remarkable nonprofit organization continues to carry out
their mission by helping community members find employment. Their
services and programs, subsidized by grants, financial donations, and
revenue generated by their stores, allow the organization to continue
their indispensable work without any expense to the public.
Additionally, Goodwill manages and operates GoodWORKS Career Resource
Centers across the Kansas City
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region and other neighboring areas. These centers are available to the
public and equipped with the resources, services and programs needed to
assist anyone with a genuine desire to enter the workforce. Their
services and programs include employment listings, career exploration,
an overview of the job application process, resume building, mock
interviews, and computer training, along with guidance in goal-setting
and identifying the steps necessary to reach those goals. Their support
and guidance are all inclusive--helping those with physical
disadvantages, mental health diagnoses, substance abuse histories,
criminal backgrounds, and developmental disabilities. Furthermore, they
seek to empower local job seekers with the confidence and skills
necessary to aid them in their ardent pursuit of employment.
Since its inception, Goodwill has served more than 600,000 people and
secured more than 200,000 paying jobs. In 2017 alone, Goodwill served
over 700 individuals, secured 155 jobs, and employed 536 new members
with a total economic impact of 18 million dollars in Western Missouri
and Eastern Kansas. Moreover, they receive over 20 million pounds of
materials to be reused, resold, or recycled annually, which kept
approximately 15 million pounds of items from ending up in landfills.
Madam Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join all of
Missouri's Fifth Congressional District as we proudly commemorate the
125 years of exceptional service and individual empowerment rendered to
our community by the Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas.
Let us join in demonstrating our strong appreciation for the
perseverance of this organization as it continues to offer essential
services and programs that meet the needs of those in our community.
____________________