Goodwill putting more of our neighbors to work

Jane entered the Goodwill Job Connection on Garners Ferry Road eager to work. She had retired after 20 years in her last job and felt her age, lack of computer skills and marketability was affecting her job search. She worked with a Goodwill employment specialist on her resume and interviewing skills, including participating in mock interviews and employment workshops. She also enrolled in a paid training program where she gained experience in retail and customer service.

Jane is now employed with a local retailer. She credits Goodwill for improving her confidence and preparing her for her new job.

Jane is just one of the 11,149 people we placed into employment through our job training programs and Job Connection services last year. They live and work in a 16-county area that reaches from Seneca to Gaffney to Lexington into the Midlands, covering about a third of our state’s 46 counties.

Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina helps people become independent through education and training leading to employment. These newly employed individuals bring to their families self-confidence, empowerment and independence that in turn builds stronger communities.

We help job seekers connect with potential employers with such resources as computers and the Internet, fax machines, telephones and job leads and referrals. A trained employment specialist is on site to assist with their job search.

Our job-training programs help people gain skills to begin careers in manufacturing, food service, retail, call centers, cleaning management and as certified nurse aides.

Goodwill opens new headquarters in West Columbia

This summer, we opened our new Midlands headquarters on Sunset Boulevard, including our first Job Connection in West Columbia. With a donation center, retail and outlet stores and Job Connection under one roof, this facility fully illustrates Goodwill’s social enterprise model of business through which we accept your donations to sell in our stores, to in turn fund our job training and employment services.

If you or someone you know is looking for work, call us, or stop by one of our nine Midlands-area Job Connections sites. We are eager to help.