Thoughtful Thursday
November 2022 Newsletter
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.
Motivation Monday
Wellness Wednesday
Feel Good Fridays
Last Week Trivia
- In what state does A Christmas Story take place?
Indiana
- How many toys were collected during the first Toys for Tots drive in Los Angeles in 1947?
Over 5,000
- What store sold the first pre-lit Christmas trees?
Target
Congrats to Troy Brant on winning last week.
Escape to Old Town Alexandria Va
https://visitalexandria.com/holidays
Guess The Movie
The movie last week was “A Christmas Story”
Generations Living Together
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.