Goodwill Gazette

August 11, 2024

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November 2022 Newsletter

November 15, 2022

Welcome to the Horizon Goodwill Industries company newsletter.

Our Mission is: Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunities.

November 2022 Vol. 1, Edition 5

Appreciating Gratitude

William Arthur Ward was a motivational writer from the 1950s and one of his more famous quotes is: “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

But what is gratitude, anyway? Gratitude is the expression of appreciation for what one has. It is pausing to notice and appreciate the things that we often take for granted, like having a place to live, food, clean water, friends, family, and even computer access. It’s taking a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are when something good happens — whether it’s a small thing or a big thing.

As we get close to Thanksgiving, I encourage you to build a habit of gratitude by paying attention each day to things you’re glad to have in your life. Slow down and notice what’s around you. For example: “Wow, the sky is beautiful today! What an incredible world we live in,” or, “There’s Sara! It was so nice of her to help me yesterday.” Take a moment to pause and reflect on the past year and, celebrate the challenges that were successfully navigated, routine days completed without concern, and recognize that even the ‘ordinary’ is a blessing in more ways than one.

I am grateful for the talents, perspectives, and energy that you each bring to HGI and our mission of removing barriers and creating opportunities.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yours in hope, Dave

What is Housing Navigation?

Housing Navigation connects individuals who are experiencing homelessness or facing eviction from their homes to resources in the community to help either secure or maintain safe and secure housing. The navigator provides a holistic approach to case management services and supports program participants experiencing homelessness. The housing navigation team identifies housing placement options for homeless individuals and manages the temporary, rapid rehousing programs. This group interacts with participants, community resources, staff members, volunteers, and other agency representatives. Each Resource Center (Hubs) has a Housing Navigator on hand to help with part of Mission Services.

Additional services include:

Referrals to clothing resources
Financial literacy education
Household management techniques
Referrals to outside agencies and home visits
Navigators also work closely with the Vocational Case Manger as a wraparound service to employment.

YOU are making a difference in the lives of many people. Here is your impact through September 2022:

A Transition and Transformation

In early summer, the Burhan’s Boulevard store was closed. Shortly afterward, the North Pointe store was opened. Many of the employees from the Burhan’s store moved to the new location on the north end of Hagerstown. Once the building was emptied out, the Business Services Hagerstown-based Custodial Division moved its operation to the Burhans building. The Business Services department provides various contracted services for private businesses and government agencies. A few of these are the Motor Vehicles Administration building, The Maryland Theater, Discovery Station, the Sideling Hill Visitor Center, the Western Maryland Children’s Center, the Internal Revenue Service, Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms, Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD, and many other locations throughout the territory.

ShopGoodwill (The E-Commerce Site)

ShopGoodwill is a member-led and member-owned e-commerce platform created to help maximize the value of donated goods and deliver on our missions. This platform has more than two decades of experience serving this network. It is staffed by e-commerce professionals with dozens of years of cumulative experience working with this and other top brands. The HGI homepage is www.shopgoodwill.com/hgi.

For Horizon Goodwill, as we process items donated to stores or donation centers, our trained e-commerce ambassadors keep an eye out for unique and curious items. Many times, to an untrained eye, they would be blindly sent to the stores for possible purchase or tossed away as damaged or unsellable items. Many items that are sent to our stores for sale are returned to our warehouses after a few weeks at the stores and are salvaged in several different ways. These unrecognized treasures would be discarded and lost forever. Luckily, our team of researchers and experts is on hand to save those items, and www.shopgoodwill.com provides the avenue to offer those items to a much larger audience.

In the past two years, the team at www.ShopGoodwill.com has invested many dollars in modernizing and transforming www.ShopGoodwill.com. They have not only developed a desktop site but also an application to browse the products at your convenience. The team is committed to continued investment in this platform to enhance the modern shopping experience. They also have an exciting vision to make the site even more accessible to people with disabilities.

Get the App!

As a reminder, utilize “Ask Here” in Paycom ESS (Employee Self-Service) to connect you to a Resource Coordinator. Access our EAP (Employee Assistance Program) on the BHS Portal online or via the app at portal.BHSonline.com Username: Horizon Goodwill or call 800-327-2251.

October’s Living Our Values Award was presented for our “SERVICE” value. Employees across the HGI organization nominated individuals that they believed embodied this value day in and day out. The employees nominated recognize they have the power to make tomorrow better and look for ways to help others succeed. They take action to make a positive difference by focusing on what can be done and committing to actions that benefit others over themselves.

Winner: Shanon Robinson – (Warehouse Supervisor/Winchester, VA)

We received 74 nominations for our Living Our Values – Service – Award. Shanon Robinson was nominated multiple times and has been nominated for other Living Our Values awards in the past few months. Comments for Shanon include “great individual to work with,” “always takes the time to help assist others,” and “good leader.”

Other top nominees included: Adam Sewell-Director of WFD & Human Services/HGI-2, Chris Heid – Assistant Manager/of the Waynesboro Retail Store, Rachel Smith – ECommerce Manager/Corporate Center, and Cindy Weaver – Custodial Regional Manager/UPIP.

Be sure to nominate your selection for the November Living Our Values – Compassion – Award. This employee demonstrates caring and acts with kindness and a desire to understand others. They strive to be inclusive while recognizing our differences. They act with the best intent and assume others are doing the same.

Submit your nominations via Paycom Survey!

Milestones & New Hires

Congratulations to the following people for reaching a great milestone, and a big ‘Welcome’ to our newest team members as they begin their journey to their milestones!

Name	Location	Department	Anniversary	Name	Location	Department
Matthew Wise	Martinsburg	Donated Goods Retail	1 year	Aereona Wolak	Berkeley Springs	Donated Goods Retail
Mary Naecker	Oakland	Donated Goods Retail	1 year	Anthony Roberts	Fort Detrick	Business Services
Judith Hose	Sideling Hill	Business Services	1 year	Autumn Anthony	Shepherdstown	Donated Goods Retail
Matthew Davis	Waynesboro	Donated Goods Retail	1 year	Bobbi Bartholow	Martinsburg	Donated Goods Retail
Adam Sewell	HGI-2	Mission Services	1 year	Brian Anderson	Front Royal	Donated Goods Retail
Christian Klipp	Fort Detrick	Business Services	1 year	Christina Birkett	Stanley	Donated Goods Retail
Michele Whiteman	Keyser	Donated Goods Retail	1 year	Cindy Godlove	Fort Detrick	Business Services
Garrett Kitis	Youghiogheny	Business Services	1 year	Crystal Ballengee	Mt Jackson	Donated Goods Retail
Joyce Quinlan	Mt Jackson	Donated Goods Retail	1 year	Danilo Meza-Ocon	Fort Detrick	Business Services
Joseph Benton	Front Royal	Donated Goods Retail	1 year	David Price	Corporate Center	Donated Goods Retail
Meagan Campbell	Waynesboro	Donated Goods Retail	1 year	Frances Raymond	Mt Jackson	Donated Goods Retail
Employee Tester	Corporate Center	Administrative Services	1 year	Gary Lewis	Fort Detrick	Business Services
Juanita Mitchell	Front Royal	Donated Goods Retail	1 year	Isabelle Staup	North Pointe	Donated Goods Retail
Bobby Munday	Fort Detrick	Business Services	2 years	Jarod Bobb	Greencastle	Donated Goods Retail
Holly Masur	HGI-2	Mission Services	2 years	Jessica Heid	Greencastle	Donated Goods Retail
Anton Williams	Corporate Center	Business Services	2 years	Kansas Hoobler	Winchester	Donated Goods Retail
Tabitha Bray	Martinsburg	Donated Goods Retail	2 years	Kaylee Blocher	Keyser	Donated Goods Retail
Crystal Barrett	Martinsburg	Donated Goods Retail	3 years	Maggie Gross	Charles Town	Donated Goods Retail
Crystal Barrett	Martinsburg	Donated Goods Retail	3 years	Mason Hollinshead	Greencastle	Donated Goods Retail
Stacey Severe	Oakland	Donated Goods Retail	3 years	Melissa Creamer	Martinsburg	Business Services
Regina Robertson	LaVale	Donated Goods Retail	3 years	Molly Lewis	Shepherdstown	Donated Goods Retail
Rachel Smith	Corporate Center	Donated Goods Retail	4 years	Nancy Byers	Martinsburg GSA	Business Services
Bethany Mccoy	Berkeley Springs	Donated Goods Retail	4 years	Pamela Ahalt	North Pointe	Donated Goods Retail
Keyon Clary	HGI-2	Business Services	4 years	Patricia Fogelsonger	Greencastle	Donated Goods Retail
Carol Custer	Woodstock	Donated Goods Retail	4 years	Paula Harding	Martinsburg	Business Services
Paul Fletcher	Cumberland UPIP	Business Services	6 years	Robert Chenoweth	Shepherdstown	Donated Goods Retail
Kristi Glennie	Corporate Center	Administrative Services	6 years	Shane Riedmuller	Waynesboro	Donated Goods Retail
Penny Upton	South End	Donated Goods Retail	6 years	Tammy Leizear	NPS Harpers Ferry	Business Services
Kenneth Winebrenner	Corporate Center	Administrative Services	6 years
Melanie Lothe	Berkeley Springs	Donated Goods Retail	6 years
Robert Merica	Cumberland UPIP	Donated Goods Retail	8 years
Johnathon Harrell	Corporate Center	Administrative Services	10 years
Victor Mcsherry	Corporate Center	Donated Goods Retail	16 years
Kathleen Noone	Winchester	Donated Goods Retail	16 years
Debra Carbaugh	Corporate Center	Administrative Services	18 years

Upcoming Events

Nov 1-8: Stephens City Store Food Drive for Stephens City United Methodist Church Food Pantry, Stephens City, VA.
Nov. 7: Smithsburg ADC Hiring Event (10AM – 2PM) 22407 Jefferson Blvd. Smithsburg, MD.
Nov. 10: From Soups to Coats (10AM – 1PM) 138 Baltimore Street, Suite 100, Cumberland, MD.
Nov. 17: Keyser Store Re-Ribbon Cutting (10 AM) 280 Keyser Mall, Keyser, WV.
Nov. 24: THANKSGIVING! (All Day)
The Adolescent Clubhouse Wednesday Night Movie (4PM – 6PM) at the new Clubhouse location at 200 N. Prospect St., Hagerstown, MD.

Thank you for reading the Horizon Goodwill Industries newsletter. If you have any exciting news or story suggestions, please get in touch with us at marketing@goodwill-hgi.org.

Generations Living Together

October 11, 2022

Generations Living Together: Communicating, Coexisting, & Creating a Healthy Routine

Intergenerational living is an important aspect of many families’ lives. Just as generations are full of complex detail and homes each have their own dynamic, bringing the two together under one roof can be a beautifully complicated thing. Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to set healthy boundaries in and around your family home.

Listen and Communicate

It can be easy for voices to get lost in the mix with a wide range of ages and cultures living in one place. Perhaps one family member has a different primary language than another, or certain generations hold more influence in how things get done. This leaves a door open for important information, plans, emotions, and health events to get lost in the shuffle. The two most important aspects of encouraging healthy communication are recognizing that everyone has a voice and dynamic role in the family and listening to one another.

The old cliche, “too many cooks in the kitchen” may never be truer. The connotation of your relationships will depend on open communication, an effort to break boundaries that silence traditionally taboo topics, and working to recognize where your voice doesn’t belong just as much as understanding where it does. For some families, this might look like setting boundaries between grandparents and parents when it comes to who’s raising the child (setting expectations, teaching respect, determining discipline) and discussing who’s meant to simply nurture loving, extended relationships.

For others, it may look like holding a family meeting and giving each child an opportunity to share how their day went or planning intentional one-on-one time with kids to explore their personal relationships and hobbies. All of this will go a long way in developing how communication works in your home and can set a positive precedent of understanding for the times when life can become challenging.

Move Beyond Coexisting

Balancing privacy with relationship building is important in any bustling household, and it can be easy to fall into the lull of a routine without spending real quality time together. To move beyond coexisting is to set aside moments for your family to just have fun. Horizon Goodwill’s Whole Family Center is specifically designed to bring generations together in a healthy, neutral environment. And, with our Adolescent Clubhouse available for ages 11 – 16, your teens and tweens will have a supportive space for navigating relationships, mental health, and schoolwork.

Spending this time together can be pivotal for your relationships and gives everyone something to look forward to amidst the craziness of life and routines. It can also be a great way to fill the gap between your eldest and youngest family members. There might always be natural disparities in culture and tradition, but fostering a loving connection, first can go a long way in bridging those differences and will encourage mutual understanding, growth, and appreciation.

What’s more, intentional time together doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It can mean a library visit for new stories to read together, extended bedtimes for card games, or fun outside in the fresh air. There are options for every lifestyle and plenty of new things for your family to try!

Create a Healthy Routine

Perhaps the strongest sentiment shared across generations is that we want the one after ours to be healthier, stronger, and more capable. People raise their children with the goal of being better, but that’s an easy blanket term to use when “better” can mean something different for everyone. Some people want to raise children who are physically healthier than they were raised. Others aim to beat cycles of addiction or focus on the financial provision. And others still may be determined to give their children a sense of community that they lacked. Whatever that looks like for your family, you’re not alone. In fact, you have generations of wisdom at your disposal.

Day-to-Day

Routines are vital for intergenerational living because they provide the structure that children grow from and practical organization that adults can maintain. In other words, routines are a big contributor to fulfilling your family’s needs, individually and collectively. These systems can be multi-faceted, too. Whether you’re juggling bathroom times for school, work, and home care or focusing on long-term goals, it’s important to take the time to find what works for your family. Consider dividing your day by one of the three Ts: time, task, and transportation. Time could mean that one adult covers morning routines while another covers the night. Task coverage might designate people to cook dinner while the kids finish their chores. And transportation by car or bus can help navigate multiple drop-offs, afterschool programs, and work schedules.

Long-Term

The best catalyst for a healthy, long-term routine is education. Literacy – reading, financial, emotional – will be pivotal to your goals. Between the normal school year, resources like those that the Whole Family Center provides, and life learning, your family can be an intergenerational success story.

But what does life learning mean? Every family member needs to know the experiences of those generations that came before them, not to reinforce guilt but to understand intentions and bolster a sense of unity. It’s also vital that everyone is involved in major moments for your household. Maybe you’re setting financial goals and determining your family’s ability to afford a home. This is an opportunity – where age-appropriate – to be transparent about the process and what financial stepping stones look like for different people.

For other families, sharing moments could mean actively seeking affordable therapy to bridge any remaining gaps in understanding, communication, or your household’s relationship with your surrounding community. And for others, it could be a simple emphasis on time spent reading with loved ones, peers, and tutors to emphasize learning and comprehension as fun, uplifting activities that will transform the future of your family.

Partnership creates pathway to life-changing career opportunities

October 7, 2022

Partnership creates pathway to life-changing career opportunities

Innovative pilot program provides job opportunities at Meritus Health

HAGERSTOWN, Md. – For people trying to change their quality of life, sometimes a pathway needs to be found. Meritus Health, Horizon Goodwill Industries, and Maryland Physicians Care have created that pathway to connect people with opportunities.

A team consisting of members representing Meritus Health, Horizon Goodwill Industries, and Maryland Physicians Care have crafted an innovative pilot program, Pathway to Healthcare, to path low/moderate income candidates directly into living wage positions in one of five identified divisions at Meritus. “We are honored to play a connecting role in this program to help support county residents and businesses,” said David Shuster, Ed.D., president and CEO of Horizon Goodwill Industries. “Through this program, we are able to directly improve the lives of the participants and strengthen the health system that serves the community. We see this as a very valuable initiative and are thrilled to be the lead sponsor,” said Jason Rottman, CEO of Maryland Physicians Care.

The concept is simple: Employment is offered in one of the numerous areas at Meritus Health. Maryland Physicians Care provides the administrative staff for program design and deployment. Training and development are provided by Horizon Goodwill Industries through the ‘Get Onboard!’ soft skills academy. Additionally, Maryland Physicians Care will cover program costs, including the candidates’ pre-employment training expenses, uniforms, and a potential bonus upon completion of the probationary period. “In fulfillment of our mission, Maryland Physicians Care is looking at factors beyond clinical care that affect our member’s health outcomes, and improving income stability is foundational to ensuring individuals have the resources and means to live healthy lives,” said Lorena de Leon, D.P.A., Sr. Director of Population Health, Maryland Physicians Care.

Once employment is underway, a probationary period begins. After six months of employment, Meritus Health reviews the employee’s performance and will offer support in furthering education and training in healthcare-specific roles. “Our health system and many industries need good, committed, and loyal workers. We are looking to the strengths that already exist within our own community and connecting them with the skills and training to develop them,” said Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., president and CEO of Meritus Health.

“In the current labor market, it is vital that we have community partners who are willing to take bold new approaches to recruit and retain employees. Creating training pathways that lead to living-wage employment opportunities for “hidden workers” is a win-win,” said Brooke Grossman, Horizon Goodwill Industries, chief mission officer.

The pilot has already taken off.

Hires have already been made following a job fair in September at Horizon Goodwill’s Human Services Building on North Prospect Street in downtown Hagerstown.

“This is just the beginning. Joshi said. “It’s not just a pathway to a job, this partnership provides an opportunity for a better life. And as the employer, it’s a great way to have a workforce representing our local community.”

Filed Under: News

_________________

About Horizon Goodwill: About Horizon Goodwill: Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) is a future-focused nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered in Hagerstown, MD, responsible for serving communities in 17 counties across MD, PA, WV, and VA. Operating numerous social enterprises and human services programs, HGI helps thousands of individuals each year pursue economic mobility through its mission of removing barriers to social mobility for meaningful and sustainable employment. Through this work, Goodwill is committed to advancing equitable opportunities for employment and environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Learn more at www.horizongoodwill.org. For media inquiries, contact Craig Foster, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, at 301-733-7330 x1630 or cfoster@goodwill-hgi.org

Timothy is Not Accepting Failure

October 7, 2022

by Christopher Six, Media Marketing Assistant

When Timothy Day was released from federal incarceration for good behavior 61 months into a 77-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, he knew a return to Atlanta would not be in his best interest. So after six months of home confinement, he set the process in motion to return to the place where it all started 30-plus years ago — Cumberland, Maryland.

“I didn’t want to go back to Atlanta because the reputation I had for the stuff that I did was never going to leave me alone. I wanted to come back to a place where I knew that I could function on the money resources that I had available to me without any strain on me. So, I came to Cumberland, Maryland,” he said.

Timothy had left Cumberland in the mid-1970s. His journey to come full circle was one of many miles and trials.

“I’m not going to lie to you; it had to do with drugs and drug use,” Timothy says when discussing the reputation he wanted to escape.

“It was a lifestyle. It wasn’t so much the drugs; it was all the bells and whistles that came with it,” he added. “I had been on drugs since I was a young boy. It started when I was six years old smoking weed, and when I hit 28, it just took a whole different turn.”

That was after several stops and starts, including attending a trade school for automotive before dropping out in the last semester. He had found himself in Atlanta, trying to support a young family.

“It started where I was self-employed, and cocaine and methamphetamines were helping me accomplish that work I needed to take care of my house and my family, but after two years of constantly working 16 hours a day, seven days a week, I had two nervous breakdowns,” he explains. “I’d go back and start building my life back again, and before long, I’d be right back on drugs because of the pressure and the stress.”

As time passed, he bounced between North Carolina and Georgia. Then came the federal charges. Upon his release, he knew he had to make a change.

“I needed some kind of foundation, so I got on the computer and pulled up the Maryland reentry guide, and they gave me information on Goodwill and a few other places, and I chose to contact Goodwill,” he added. “After I contacted Goodwill … every barricade I hit, or thing I had to maneuver around, Horizon Goodwill was there to help me and make sure that I was staying focused on what I was trying to accomplish and give me the resources to reach out to, like DORS (Division of Rehabilitation Services).”

Timothy began services with HGI in December of 2021, enrolling in both employment services and housing navigation programs. Working with Housing Navigator Andi Welch, in June of this year he secured income-based housing, left the Union Rescue Mission, and is now living in his own apartment in Cumberland.

“So, I landed right back in the same spot as I stood 35 years ago, but everything is due to a purpose. I just keep myself going knowing that this is something that I’m doing now that I’ve been trying to do for the past 20 years, but every time I tried to get my certification or go to school to become what I’m becoming, I got involved with drugs,” he said. “Anytime a situation came up with judgment involved, I’d resort back to you to drugs, but this time it’s different because I like the path that I’m on, and I’m enjoying every step that I’ve taken.”

Timothy also entered into the Temp Labor/Paid Training Program in June and began working at the Warehouse in Cumberland, where he quickly excelled in the position.

“They helped me establish my housing, they helped me establish work — I worked for Horizon in a temporary position. It felt good because it was the first time I worked in a long time, and I made sure I was a very dedicated worker,” he said. “So, it’s been very beneficial for me because it opened a lot of doors and stood beside me with my guidance and sometimes listened to me moan and groan about things, but they wanted to hear it. They were very interested in what I had to say. They’ve always been there for me, even still today. I can contact them if I’m dealing with something, and they’ll come to talk to me and help me get through it or maybe even come up with resources that are available in my community to help me maneuver through.”

Warehouse Manager Melissa Harris praised that dedication, highlighting that he picked up very quickly on all his assigned work duties and was able to work independently and at a very fast pace. She particularly noted his dependability and work ethic.

Timothy has also been successful in his recovery program with the Allegany County Health Department and has a passion for helping others. He enrolled in the Human Services Program at Allegany College of Maryland and left his paid training position at the warehouse in August to participate in the program full-time for the fall semester. He is also now an employee at the college.

Timothy says he has no real regrets about the journey that brought him here because it made him who he is today and gave him the knowledge and experience to help others, which is his goal after completing his studies.

“No matter where you started, you end up in the same place that I ended up in, and if I can help people from getting to there by what I can say about it…” he said. “I don’t want somebody to be 55 years old and go through all the stuff that I went through. If I get someone in their 20s and get them to understand that they don’t have to waste away parts of their life, thinking that it’s okay, and they got control of it… because sooner or later, you don’t have control over it because it takes control you. ”

Timothy wishes he could have taken this initiative 30 years ago but says he feels blessed to be alive to do the things he is doing now. A father of four with three grandchildren, he is even more thankful they get to see him setting out on this new part of his life’s journey and to have their support along the way.

“I haven’t been a man on a mission for a long time… you can’t stop a man on a mission. I’m definitely going to succeed because I’m not accepting failure, “ he said. “The journey that I’m supposed to be on… the destination has not been met. And I do believe that the journey that I’m on now is the journey that I’m supposed to have been on in the eyes of the Lord. So, therefore, here I go.”

October 2022 Newsletter

September 30, 2022

Welcome to the Horizon Goodwill Industries company newsletter.

Our Mission is: Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunities.

October 2022 Vol. 1, Edition 4

The Times They Are A-Changin’

It feels like just a week or so ago, it was almost 90 degrees outside, and now here we are, a couple of days into fall, with temperatures hovering in the mid-60s. What a dramatic seasonal change, which, fortunately for weather forecasters, is relatively easy to predict each year. For the rest of us, I think the events of the past two years have highlighted the unpredictable nature of the world and the need to be prepared for the ever-increasing speed of change. I am reminded of these lyrics penned many years ago by Bob Dylan:

“Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin’
And you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’”

I think we can agree that at HGI our business has changed, our programs have changed, and the needs of our communities and employees have changed. One thing that has not changed is our commitment to delivering our mission – removing barriers and creating opportunities. Working together, we continue to be successful in anticipating and responding to the changing needs around us. I realize that we each have different styles of adjusting to change, so I would ask that as we continue to move forward, you approach changes with a growth mindset (see last month’s lesson on learning). 😊 If you don’t understand the changes we are making, please ask questions so we can explain and help you be more comfortable. Since change around us has become inevitable, we will always evaluate how we do our work and deliver our mission at Goodwill. I hope each of you approaches this challenge with an open mind and willingness to be a part of an organization that continuously strives to make sure we are always doing our best work in the best way for those we serve.

Yours in hope, Dave

HGI Youth Services is expanding!! In 2019, HGI opened the Young Adult Solution Center in Hagerstown. The Solution Center is a drop-in center for young adults aged 16-24 in Washington County that are not working or attending school. The Young Adult Solution Center has served more than 400 Washington County young adults with various needs, from housing to education and employment services. We are excited to announce that due to the hard work of our young adult services teams that our program has been chosen to receive funding to expand these services into West Virginia! We anticipate having staff on board in the next several weeks and starting services in November 2022.

The ribbon cutting of the Young Adult Solution Center on November 19, 2019

The following are the Services provided through August 2022:

This month, the Business Services Department wants to highlight one of its employees. Meet Danny Shoemaker!

Danny Shoemaker started at Horizon Goodwill on January 9, 2018, and works at the Sideling Hill Rest Area. Enjoys time with his dog Ellie May, cats Norbit, Curious, Bandit, Crack Doodle, Momma, Malo, Frosty, Olly Bear, sitting on his deck, and cookouts with friends.

At age 29, Danny found himself addicted to prescription drugs. Like many in this situation, the pills that seemed to help initially eventually took over and ran his life for six years. At the age of 35, Danny knew he needed to make a change before the situation became irreversible. Danny found the strength within to quit the pills on his own with no outside help and has been clean since.

Thinking his tough times in life were over, Danny was confronted with another seemingly insurmountable challenge. His daughter was driving, and there was a severe accident in which 2 of her close friends lost their lives. His daughter was sentenced to 3 yrs. for this tragic mistake. Danny struggled every day for 2 yrs. waiting for his daughter’s sentencing. His job and his work friends at Sidling Hill help to keep his mind off the situation and gave him people to talk to about what he was going through. Their support was invaluable. It felt good to have friends to talk to about what he was dealing with. Without the sustainable, meaningful employment opportunity provided by this contract, it is hard to know if Danny would have the strength to avoid a relapse or worse.

Danny has overcome a lot in his life and is a great asset to Goodwill and the EWP program. He is a hard worker and has a caring and fun personality. With all of Danny’s struggles that he has gone through in his life, he never let it stop him from trying to improve his life. He has a lot of willpower and strength not to turn back to pills, and it is comforting to know that his employment opportunity plays an ongoing role in that success.

Meet the Waynesboro Store!

Part of the Horizon Goodwill Industries territory includes two counties in Pennsylvania, Fulton and Franklin Counties. In Franklin, we have a store in Greencastle and Waynesboro. In January 2022, the store in the Waynesboro Market Place on Buchanan Trail East moved from a small location on one side of the shopping center into part of the former Food Lion store. The new store is more than double the size of the previous store and has the height of the grocery store and the brightness of the grocery store to make shopping more open and enjoyable. Leslee Lundahl is the store manager at the Waynesboro, PA location and says, “the extra space has really provided the opportunity to serve the community in a large capacity. From a larger selection of furniture to an easier, more shoppable store and happier customers.” When the grand opening was held, the temperature was 14 degrees, but that didn’t stop almost 200 shoppers from lining up to come into the new location. The store is located at 11145 Buchanan Trail East, Waynesboro, PA.

Just another normal day at the Waynesboro Goodwill with our resident camels and rooster with his tools, joined by the skunks, horse, and Bambi getting ready for Halloween.

Pictured: Chris Heid – Assistant Mgr., Alyssa Fleagle – ADC, Summer Marcus – Processor, Emily Hebert – Shift Supervisor, Christy Seibert – Sales Clerk, Meagan Campbell – Processor

Not pictured: Leslee Lundahl – Manager (took the picture), Carol Abrecht – Processor, Jason Wade – Processor, Kendle Devlin – Processor, Cassandra Clevenger – Processor, Shane Riedmuller – Sales Clerk, Tina Bussard – Sales Clerk, Andrew Burns – Sales Clerk, Jamie Craig – Sales Clerk, Matt Davis – Sales Clerk, Jocelyn Parker – Sales Clerk, and Ashley Snyder – Sales Clerk

October = Ghosts, Ghouls, and Black Cats – oh my!

Autumn has officially arrived, and rumblings of spooky costumes are arriving in our retail locations across the territory. Human Resources doesn’t have to be scary, and we love to trick-or-treat (especially the treats)! This month we are celebrating our team members, Nicole Matherly and Kenneth Winebrenner. Kenneth is transitioning to their new role as HR Generalist in the next week. Nicole has newly joined the team from Greencastle as a Resource Coordinator. Nicole will primarily be working with HGI’s Source America contract sites and supporting employees within our business services division. Congratulations!

September’s Living Our Values Award was presented for our “CELEBRATION” value. Employees across the HGI organization nominated individuals that they believed embodied this value day in and day out. The employees nominated take time to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of others. They believe in the value of overcoming barriers and take pride in achievements, great and small.

Winner: Mandi Waid (Unit Processor/Berkeley Springs)

We received 88 nominations for our Living Our Values – Celebration – Award. Mandi Waid was nominated multiple times, and comments included, “Mandi is willing to help anyone that asks her, she will step up if she sees someone is struggling to get the duros to move, or she will volunteer herself to do extra things to help the store! Mandi has put the effort to make her goal every day and to give a helping hand to all of us if needs to be!!”, “I am nominating Mandi Waid, because she is easily the hardest working person I have ever met. Despite having a lot going on in her personal life, Mandi still makes it a point to show up to work with a smile on her face and motivation like I’ve never seen to get as much product out as possible.” and “Mandi works hard is willing to help anyone she is just an all-around good person.”.

Other top nominees included: Frances Malone – Sales Clerk/Woodstock, Linda Smith – Sales Clerk/Stanley, and Troy Brant – WFD Instructor/UPIP

Be sure to nominate your selection for the October Living Our Values – Service – Award. This employee recognizes they have the power to make tomorrow better and looks for ways to help others succeed. They take action to make a positive difference by focusing on what can be done and committing to actions that benefit others over themselves.

Spotlight – Horizon Goodwill Makes it Convenient!

In 2021. Horizon Goodwill opened a convenience store in a Hagerstown Housing Authority (HHA) building on West Baltimore Street. The store is located in the C.W. Brooks building. The Horizon Corner Store slowly became better known to the complex, and once delivery was made available, the store has taken off. Like other quick-stop stores, the Horizon Corner store is in place to help people with barriers to reaching stores like this. Some people in the housing authority building do not have the ability to leave the building to reach other stores. Transportation issues is a common problem for people who live in the downtown area, and this helps to bridge that gap. The store has the standard wares of 7-11 or Sheetz. It offers Groceries, Milk, Eggs, Snack Foods, Soft Drinks, Toiletries, and Medicines, all at a lower price point than similar stores.

The store’s success was enough to give us the incentive to give it another try at the HHA Walnut Towers buildings on Walnut Street. As of this writing, the lease has been signed, and the remodeling of the space has begun. A January 2023 opening is planned for the next Horizon Corner Store!