In 1902 Edgar J. Helms, a Boston minister, conceived the idea of collecting unwanted household goods and employing jobless men and women to refurbish them.  Income from the resold goods paid the workers’ wages.
The system worked and the Goodwill method of self-help was born.

“Giving a chance, not charity”

Today Reverend Helms’ philosophy flourishes among more than 200 independent Goodwills in the U.S., Canada, and 22 other countries. 
As the movement spread during Goodwill’s first century, it became the world’s largest network of privately operated vocational rehabilitation and employment organizations.  More than six million people have come through Goodwill’s doors to transform their lives and build independence.

National watchdog groups and publications including Smart Money consistently give Goodwill Industries high ratings for the prudent and innovative use of funds.

Goodwill Comes to the Inland Northwest

Gradually the Goodwill network extended further west. In 1938 a local minister in Rockford was asked to lead plans for establishing a Goodwill in Spokane.

1960s

Goodwill established a formal Rehabilitation Department and set up a Work Evaluation Center for assessing new trainees.  The Veterans Administration accepted Goodwill as a rehabilitation center, work evaluation station, and work-training organization.

In the 1960s Goodwill began building and locating collection boxes in neighborhoods.  These evolved into our Attended Donation Centers (ADCs). (For today’s locations of ADCs, please see “Donating to Goodwill.”)

In 1964 Goodwill entered its first contract to assemble products for a manufacturing firm, a burglar alarm maker.  The new Contract Shop enabled Goodwill to hire more people with severe disabilities. A new fleet of trucks was purchased in 1968. The trucks were driven from Detroit to Spokane.

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1970s

During this period of expansion, the downtown facility added a new conveyor belt, expanded the dock area, added new rehabilitation and human resource offices, and began renovation of the plant.

1990s

The nonprofit corporation changed its name from Inland Empire Goodwill Industries to
Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest.

In 1992 the first participants in the WORKLIFE Employability and Life Skills Training Program were enrolled.  The Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation issued Goodwill’s first, interim certification for services. As large-appliance repair and sandblasting became cost-prohibitive, Goodwill discontinued those operations.

In 1992 Goodwill held its first annual fundraising auction, “A Night in New Orleans,” in Spokane. Proceeds benefited the WORKLIFE program as well as the cafeteria renovation and training program.  The auction continues to be a major event today.

Expansion of programs and services continued, especially in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Lewiston.

In 1994 Goodwill opened ABC Tech Discovery Center, later changed to ABC Discovery Child Care Center.  The center provides care and developmental activities for more than 50 children from the community as well as from employees’ families.

Also in 1994, the Goodwill network formally adopted a new worldwide name: Goodwill Industries International.
Goodwill began using the McCarron-Dial testing system to assess participants with the goal of determining what types of jobs best suit an individual or what interventions are needed to perform other kinds of jobs well.  The advanced battery of tests measures cognitive abilities, motor, adaptive, and sensory skills, and emotional-behavioral-coping skills.

In 1996 Goodwill opened its new facility in Moses Lake.  It replaced a small retail store and combined production areas, workforce development and social services offices, large retail space, and the first drive-through donation drop-off in the region.

In July 1997 Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest hosted the annual convention of Goodwill Industries International, attended by more than 500 delegates from across North America and overseas affiliates.  In a surprise announcement during the week-long Delegate Assembly, Bobbi Johnson received the Kenneth King Management Award, the most prestigious honor for a Goodwill executive.
Goodwill opened its own computer training center in 1998.  It opened with nine work stations.

Also in 1998, Goodwill opened Bj’s next to the downtown Spokane Goodwill store.  The specialty boutique features Victorian décor, an espresso bar, and higher-end clothing, vintage jewelry, art and antiques, books, furniture and collectibles.  The opening received enthusiastic local publicity.  Bj’s is named after President and CEO Bobbi Johnson.

In 1999 Goodwill contracted with the Washington Office of Trade and Economic Development to provide the Community Jobs program in Grant, Adams, and Lincoln counties.  The program provides training, pre-employment, and job placement services to individuals transitioning from public assistance to self-sufficiency.

1999 also brought a team of surveyors from a national body, the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF) to the Inland Northwest.  Following an intensive evaluation of Goodwill’s services, the surveyors awarded the longest-possible accreditation to the five vocational programs Goodwill had submitted.  Since 1974 Goodwill’s vocational programs have received CARF accreditation, an important measure of quality service delivery.

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2000

Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest assisted more than 1250 people with disabilities and disadvantages.  Individuals served had many different barriers, ranging from physical disabilities to mental impairments and included many people transitioning from welfare to work.

During the year major “live” retail promotions were held in Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene.  Through print ads and radio remote broadcasts from the facilities, the public was invited to stop by and “Meet the Manager” and enjoy special refreshments and entertainment.  KREM featured great back-to-school buys at Goodwill in a story filmed in the downtown Spokane store.

In September a fire broke out in the Colville Goodwill.  Fortunately repairs were made quickly enough that the store was able to reopen within days.

In October Goodwill’s held its Outlaw Auction, the major fundraising event of the year.   The Western-themed party in Spokane’s Ag Trade Center was a huge success.

In November staff and volunteers served a Community Thanksgiving Dinner for individuals and families who otherwise might have been able to enjoy a holiday meal.

2001

During the winter, Girl Scouts with Goodwill was launched throughout the region.  The very successful donation drive, undertaken as a special community service project by Girl Scouts Inland Empire Council, has become an annual event.

In September 2001, Goodwill held its annual fundraising auction party in the soon-to-be opened Goodwill facility on North Nevada Street in Spokane.

Two days later Goodwill served as the lead agency for the two-day Spokane visit of Mervyn’s California Community Closet.  The national project, which received extensive local news coverage, involved the department store’s staff outfitting 64 women who were receiving public assistance with interview/work outfits.  The women came to Spokane’s Riverfront Park from throughout the region for the event, which took place in Mervyn’s 73-foot “department store on wheels.”

The Grand Opening of the new North Nevada Street in Goodwill brought eager crowds of shoppers as well as local community leaders.  The retail store features a cutting-edge look, with high ceilings and exposed pipes.  The complex also has Workforce Development & Social Services offices, a production area for processing donated goods, and a drive-through donation drop-off.

In November Goodwill staff and volunteers served a Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the downtown Spokane headquarters.  Moses Lake Goodwill began their own tradition of partnering with local agencies to provide a similar dinner in that city for people who otherwise might not enjoy one.

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2002

Goodwill Industries celebrated its centennial around the world.  Since 1902, when Goodwill was founded in Boston, nearly six million people have come through Goodwill’s doors seeking assistance to transform their lives and build independence for themselves and their families.

In November Goodwill opened its newest facility, located in the new city of Spokane Valley.  In addition to a modern retail store and offices for workforce development and social services, the facility includes the first drive-through espresso stand operated by a Goodwill agency anywhere in the world.

2002 saw the successful start-up of programs developed to serve previously unserved/underserved individuals in the Inland Northwest:

July saw Goodwill’s major annual fundraiser, a Mexican-themed dinner auction party, move the prestigious Spokane Club.  Guests raved about the venue as well as the fiesta theme, bidding for all kinds of items in both the silent and loud auctions.  Proceeds are going toward a fund to build an innovative new playground for ABC Discovery Child Care Center, operated by Goodwill in downtown Spokane.  The center cares for more than 50 children from the community as well as from Goodwill employees’ families.

At the new Spokane Valley Goodwill, located on Sprague near Evergreen, Bj’s Espresso opened in late 2002.  The drive-through espresso stand is the first one operated by a Goodwill anywhere.  It was named for Bobbi Johnson, President and CEO of our Goodwill, who came up with the idea.

2003

January brought the third annual “Girl Scouts with Goodwill” donation drive to the Inland Northwest.  Troops of eager Girl Scouts dropped off special donation bags then collected the full bags the following weekend.  They were featured on local television news programs.

In April Goodwill held its 19^th annual fashion show, lunch and sale in Spokane.  A special salute was added to the very popular In Vogue.  A popular local television personality, Tim Adams of KHQ TV, serves in the Navy Reserve. He helped close show wearing his Navy dress uniform on the runway in a special moment during a time of war.

Community Gateway, a program for ex-offenders, completed its first contract period with outstanding results.  Funded by Washington State Employment Security’s Corrections ClearingHouse beginning on October 15, 2002, program staff finished the state’s fiscal year by exceeding contract goals:  From inception to June 30, 2003, Community Gateway enrolled 200+ participants, found employment for 92.2% of them and reported a 78% 90-day retention rate.  Based on performance, Goodwill’s contract was expanded both fiscally and geographically for program year 2003-2004.

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In July 2003, Goodwill began its contract with the Washington’s Department of Corrections for the Going Home Initiative, an innovative program to help individuals with serious felony backgrounds reenter the community.  Volunteers from neighborhoods and local agencies work together to provide resources that will help prevent the participants from re-offending and returning to prison.

Goodwill’s Community Gateway program for people with less serious criminal backgrounds was re-funded based on performance.  Staff of the program, which is administered by the Washington State Employment Security Department’s Corrections ClearingHouse, were able to expand their outreach beyond Spokane.

La Fiesta Grande  took on a Southwestern flair when Goodwill’s major annual fundraiser was held in October.  The popular auction party moved to The Spokane Club, where guests bid in a silent auction and live auction for items ranging from getaways to fine art.  Mexican-influenced specialties provided a sumptuous dinner.  Proceeds benefited the fund for ABC Discovery Child Care Center’s new playground at Goodwill’s headquarters.  More than 50 children from the community attend the center.

Community Thanksgiving Dinners were arranged by Goodwill in Spokane and Moses Lake.  Individuals and families who might otherwise not have had a special holiday meal attended, with generous support of local businesses.

A new in-house program for Managers in Training was rolled out in December.  Three individuals began an intensive, three-month course of hands-on and classroom learning to prepare them to serve as managers or assistant managers in Goodwill facilities within the Inland Northwest.

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2004

Results of service to individuals with disabilities and disadvantages in 2003 were announced early in the year.  More than 2000 people participated in Goodwill programs in eastern Washington and northern Idaho.  This was an increase over the previous year of service to 1924 individuals.

Celebrating Independence was the theme and spirit of Goodwill’s annual Awards and Recognition Night, held in March in downtown Spokane.  In addition to salutes to employees, staff, and community supporters, this year’s event honored the five winners of the new Independence Award.  Representing Spokane, Moses Lake, Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, and Sandpoint/Bonners Ferry, the individuals were recognized for building their own independence with Goodwill’s help.

In April Goodwill held its 20^th annual fashion show, luncheon, and sale at the renovated, historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane.  Volunteer models from the community showed off apparel ranging from weekend wear to business attire.  In honor of the event’s anniversary, a special segment featured vintage clothing modeled by teenage volunteers.
Good for All Seasons, the show’s theme, reflects Goodwill’s shift to year-round offerings of holiday merchandise, rather than limiting their availability to short-term seasonal promotions.  Now “Every Day’s A Holiday” at Goodwill.

July brought the fourth annual Huckleberry’s/KREM Donation Drive for Goodwill.  The event includes substantial advance publicity provided at no cost to Goodwill by KREM TV and Classy 99.9 FM.  The drive entices donors to bring by targeted items such as furniture so they can earn certificates for Huckleberry’s Natural Market and Bistro in Spokane.

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In the fall guests of Goodwill’s annual dinner-auction party feasted and bid in a glowing Mediterranean atmosphere at Bella Sera, a beautiful evening, held at The Spokane Club.
 

Once again a year-end appeal for reusable donated goods brought extensive media coverage and winter donations.  Viewers were reminded that they can tax a tax deduction as well as clearing out no-longer-wanted items.
 

2005

Girl Scouts Inland Empire Council teamed with Goodwill in January to collect resalable household goods from neighbors in communities across the Inland Northwest.
 

Number of people served by Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest continues to climb.  It is reported that in 2004 Goodwill helped more than 2800 people in eastern Washington and northern Idaho build independence.
 

In March, members of the Goodwill family gathered in Spokane to Celebrate Independence.  Awards were presented to employees and staff, business supporters, and program graduates.
 

At the Goodwill Industries International Delegate Assembly, our President and CEO, Bobbi Johnson, accepts the Robert and Charlotte Watkins Award for Mission Advancement.  This is the third of three prestigious awards a CEO can receive.  At the same annual convention, Community Gateway, a program for released/releasing offenders, is presented the national Workplace Skills Award.

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East Wenatchee became the site of Goodwill’s 12^th store in the Inland Northwest in the summer.  A huge crowd attended the grand opening while a live radio host promoted the store.  Services to Wenatchee Valley residents will be provided soon.
 

2006

Following the three-day visit of a national survey team in late fall, in the new year Goodwill receives impressive news:  all of the employment programs submitted for evaluation have received accreditation for the maximum three-year period from the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (formerly CARF).
 

On April 12 Goodwill Industries opens its 13^th retail store, in Post Falls, Idaho.  Out of every $1.00 Goodwill takes in, 85 cents funds its programs that last year helped more than 3100 people build independence through training, education, and employment.

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