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Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska, Inc.
About Us

Our History

Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska

How & Why Goodwill Was Founded

Rev. Edgar J. Helms, Goodwill Founder

 

Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. Helms, inspired by compassion for people with disabilities and disadvantaging conditions, sought a way to improve their quality of life.

Helms took a burlap sack and began traveling to the affluent  areas of the city, asking for unwanted garments and other goods. Underprivileged or indigent men and women were then offered work at the Morgan Memorial Chapel restoring the collected items, learning trades and acquiring skills as they worked.

Once the items were repaired, they were resold and the money was used to pay the wages of the workers. This cycle of donating, repairing, selling and paying wages was the beginning of Goodwill Industries.  Times have changed, but Helm’s vision remains constant.

More than 120 years later, Goodwill remains a household name and leading nonprofit provider of educational and workforce-related services.

History of Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska

1966

Retail store opened at 4th & Pine in Grand Island.

1967

Kearney retail store opened.

1968

Local Board of Trustees created Central Nebraska Goodwill Industries (22 employees on payroll and 11 participants served).

1970

Served 81 individuals.

1972

Provided services through job training, work adjustment, and vocational evaluation in Grand Island.

1972

Opened retail store in Hastings.

1976

First organization in Nebraska to receive national CARF accreditation.

1980

Awarded a federal grant to create and build a consumer-based advocacy organization (The Center for Independent Living).

1981

A new 24,000 sq ft headquarters facility opened after the June 3, 1980 tornadoes demolished existing buildings.

1981

Served Adams, Buffalo, and Hall counties.

1986

Development of HUD housing project for persons living with an impacting mental illness.

1989

Behavioral Health Day Rehabilitation Services initiated.

1993

Provided four-week job readiness workshops called Working Solutions in Kearney, Grand Island, and Hastings.

1996

Become state certified to provide Developmental Disability Services.

2002

Changed our name from Central Nebraska Goodwill Industries to Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska.

2002

Columbus, Scottsbluff, and North Platte stores opened.

2005

Acquired brain injury pilot program initiated in Grand Island.

2006

Expanded Behavioral Health employment program to North Platte and Lexington area.

2006

Started a specialized substance abuse reporting center in Lexington and Kearney for persons involved in the legal system with substance abuse issues.

2007

Lexington Community Training Center opened.

2008

Began processing electronic waste with a first shipment of 9,819 pounds.

2009

Awarded work incentive planning contract for the tri-city area.

2010

South Locust retail store opened in Grand Island.

2010

Transitional Age Supported Employment (TASE) program for high school age youth with behavioral health issues.

2012

Opened McCook services center for Employment Services.

2015

Received approval from Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services as a qualified Extended Family Home Provider.

2015

Tammy Slater announced as incoming CEO.

2016

On Track Central Nebraska began in Grand Island and Kearney.

2017

Started providing services in Columbus, community support (mental health and substance use disorder), day rehabilitation & day support, and behavioral health supported employment.

2017

Outlet store opened at 1729 S. Lincoln Avenue (corporate office).

2018

50th anniversary Business After Hours with GI Chamber of Commerce.

2019

Started Transitional Living Services in Grand Island.

2020

McCook retail store opened.

2022

Alliance retail store opened.

2023

Curtiss Dill announced as incoming CEO.

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