Goodwill History
A Brief History of Goodwill...
Dr. Edgar J. Helms |
Edgar J. Helms Signature |
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We are a member organization of Goodwill Industries International which is located on Rockville Pike in Rockville Maryland. | |
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Member Goodwills are independent, community-based organizations, governed by local boards of directors. Each local Goodwill must be accredited, apply for membership and meet the criteria and standards for membership established by Goodwill Industries International, Inc. |
Goodwill was established in Boston in 1902 by Dr. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and his associates. Helms took burlap bags and went to Boston’s wealthy citizens and asked for whatever clothing they could spare, but not money. The Goodwill store was born when Helms hired people in need, many whom were considered unemployable, to repair damaged items and sell the donated goods.
Original Burlap Donation Sacks and Early Donation Truck
“A hand up, not a hand out” was his motto. Helms opened Goodwill’s doors to anyone with a “willingness to work” and became the pioneer of an organization that gave people hope, dignity and independence by providing them with the means to earn a paycheck and support their families. His social innovation set in motion a worldwide movement, Goodwill Industries, that has touched more than 5 million lives over the course of the past century.
Early Goodwill Workers Repairing Items
While Goodwill is no longer in the business of repairing donated items, it employs hundreds of people in the cycle of donations, processing and resale of these goods.
Training programs in computer technology, retail operations, as well as internships in accounting, marketing and information technology job skills help our clients move to competitive employment in the community.
The single largest revenue source is still the retail sales of donated goods. Other sources of income include industrial services, private and government grants, and charitable contributions.
Early Goodwill Store
Other History Items
Morgan Memorial advertising cover
This cover is from the Morgan Memorial Cooperative Industries in Boston Mass. postmarked in 1921.
It features the slogan "Not charity but a Chance" which was adopted as a national slogan in 1918 after being used at the Cleveland Ohio Goodwill Industries which coined it from a copy of "Carry-On" magazine.
Hand Drawn and Hand Painted "Kribbs Kover" depicting "Good Willy"
This beautifully hand painted First Day Cover commemorates 90 years of Goodwill, 1902 - 1992. Produced by a well known cover maker and postmarked July 22, 1992 in Washington D.C. on postal stationery U-629 - the "People with Disabilities" stamp.
Cover from Dayton Ohio Goodwill Industries 1952 depicting "Good Willy"
"Good Willy" Postcard
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