Easter Seals Disability Services

Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota and you - a community working together to improve lives one good job at a time

On the ball field, one run can win a game, but in community life victory comes in stages and steps.

Minnesota communities and families triumph every time a person drives through a Goodwill donation center and drops off a pair of jeans. We win another small victory when a Goodwill store shopper buys the jeans. The donation and the purchase are eco-friendly. Fewer jeans and less packaging end up in landfills. We save energy and resources. And the money raised strengthens Minnesota individuals, families and communities.

“What began with the donation of jeans at a Goodwill ends in successful employment for thousands of Minnesotans who were once unemployed or underemployed,” says Vice President of Mission Services Sheila Olson. 

You can be a part of this community of change.

In 2009 and early 2010, Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota is opening new Goodwill stores in Bloomington, Woodbury and relocating a store in Elk River. That’s three more wins for Minnesotans. Some locations will also house offices for employment services.

“When we open a store, our goal is to provide our customers with a great shopping experience, giving them a clean, well-merchandised, easy-to-shop environment,” says Debbie Ferry, vice president of retail sales at Goodwill/Easter Seals.

Opening a new Goodwill store is a community effort. In 2008, more than a million Minnesota and northeastern Wisconsin donors dropped off 66 million pounds of used merchandise.

Because the new store donation center does not open until the store opens, we rely on the generosity of our donors at existing stores. So we invite you to drop off your donations at one of our Goodwill donation centers. Find out what we need.

Volunteers also contribute. In the weeks before the store opens, volunteers help sort, organize and stock the racks and shelves with the donated merchandise. They also assist customers at the initial opening and grand opening events.

Our many financial supporters cap off the investment in changed lives by making it possible to provide family strengthening services, such as childcare support during job training. Change lives. Contribute today.

“Every time the cash register rings, you become part of a community of change that helps a person with a disability or difficulty, a mother or father find a good job,” says Michael Wirth-Davis, president and CEO of Goodwill/Easter Seals.

As of April, 2009, Minnesotans with disabilities were twice as likely (16%) to be unemployed as others (8%) in our state*. So when a person with a barrier is placed in a job, it's a resounding victory for all of us.

In this current economic climate, it’s also significant that Goodwill/Easter Seals is creating jobs as well as preparing people for work. Our stores employ approximately 25 to 30 employees and some also house offices for employment services. 

* Tundel, Nikki. "Tough job market even tougher for those with disabilities," Minnesota Public Radio,
April 2, 2009 on http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/04/01/jobs_disabilities/