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In 1902, Goodwill Industries International was founded in Boston
by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city,
then trained and hired those who were poor to mend and repair the used goods. The
goods were then resold or were given to the people who repaired them. The system
worked, and the Goodwill philosophy of self-sufficiency was born.
In 1963, Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc. (GICNC) began serving the Triad
community by providing career development services to people with barriers to employment,
such as a disability or lack of work experience. Through a grant in 1976, we moved
our corporate office from Elm Street to Eugene Street, allowing us to expand our
building as well as our services. Through a capital campaign in 1993, we were able
to expand our corporate offices and services again.
With a desire to offer more services, our organization grew again in 2003, by building
the Reidsville Community Resource Center that opened in 2004. In 2007, we broke ground on a Community Resource Center in Asheboro that opened in 2008. In 2010, Reidsville Community Resource Center added a west wing addition to support health and allied services classes. Currently all of the community resource centers in Rockingham, Guilford and Randolph Counties utilize staff and curriculum by respective community colleges. Therefore, those who utilize these services also gain continuing education credits.
In 2010, GICNC broke ground on a new retail model that incorporated our first Career Center. Opened in 2011, the North Elm Career Center offers career services while also allowing shoppers and donors to see the mission of Goodwill. Further expansion has included the Eden Community Resource Center (October 2011), Oak Ridge Career Center (March 2012), Mayodan Career Center (September 2012), and Burlington Community Resource Center (November 2012).
Currently, Goodwill operates 22 retail stores and five Community Resource Centers and three Career Centers to
serve Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham Counties. Goodwill collects
donated items, sells them in stores and uses the revenue to fund job training in
community resource centers. Our Community Resource Centers offer computer labs, career counseling, job search assistance and many
other services to local residents who are unemployed or underemployed. Going forward, Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc. has goals for future expansion.
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